Recently, friends have gifted me with flowering plants on occasions such as birthdays, or from students who wish to express appreciation and co-workers who manifest love through kind gestures.

A year ago, my dear friend June gave me the tiniest Violet (perhaps an inch or so in height) and entrusted me with her care. I must confess I am not one who finds time to nurture plants. Yet, each morning upon awakening I greet Violet perched upon the windowsill and we’ve become friends. Sleepily as the coffee brews, I give Violet a little drink of cool water as we encourage  mutual hopefulness within the first light of day.

Eventually, as Violet thrived  her roots began crowding her to an intolerable level, so I moved her into a more spacious home. Now, she sits contentedly and breathes in all as it is.

While we live in very troubling times, we can cultivate compassion to blossom in ourselves and others in many ways. The following poem by the great spiritual guide, Thich Nhat Hanh offers this wisdom…

The only thing worthy of you is compassion –
invincible, limitless, unconditional.
Hatred will never let you face
the beast in man.

One day, when you face this beast alone,
with your courage intact, your eyes kind,
untroubled
(even as no one sees them),
out of your smile
will bloom a flower.
And those who love you
will behold you
across ten thousand worlds of birth and dying.

Alone again,
I will go on with bent head,
knowing that love has become eternal.
On the long, rough road,
the sun and the moon
will continue to shine.

~Thich Nhat Hanh – 1965

Reflection by Liz Sorensen Wessel
Watercolor/ Ink pen drawing by ~liz