Monday Reflections: Flowers Everywhere

 “Il y a des fleurs partout pour qui veut bien le voir.”

— Henri Matisse

To have hope is not to wish for something better. Hope is to see the life that is already here. Hope is to participate in the good that is already here. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM Communications.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. It has a great collection, including 19th-century Impressionist art. Any day on which I can be with the work of impressionist artists is a good day for me. Their art was not meant to help us see a scene but to help us see with our hearts. Impressionist art helps us feel anew what is already in front of us.

Henri Matisse, one of the best-known impressionists, spoke of his art by saying, “There are flowers everywhere for those who really want to see them.”

Nov. 30 is the first Sunday in the Christian year. The four Sundays before Christmas are a time of preparation to welcome Christ into the world and into our lives. Each Sunday has a theme. Even when different traditions have their own approaches, traditionally, the themes of hope, peace, joy and love are addressed. The church has identified these four values as central to the message of Christ and to the way Christians ought to order their lives. The first Sunday of Advent is traditionally associated with hope.

To have hope is not to wish for something better. Hope is to see the life that is already here. Hope is to participate in the good that is already here. Matisse believed that flowers are always visible to those who want to see them. Likewise, hope is present for those who want to hope. Sometimes, it is difficult to see the good that there is in the world. As we walk into the darkest days of the year, let us not only see the good in the world but let us participate in it. By doing so, we will not only see hope but we will become hope.

Prayer

Divine Light, as the days grow shorter and darkness falls upon us, help us keep our hope alive. Help us see that even in darkness, life finds a way. Help us see the flowers on our path. Amen.