Symbols of Life

Recently I was looking at a pond that has
several Lotus flowers growing in it. I’ve admired their beauty many times in the
past but, this morning, while enjoying the rising sun I noticed that the flowers
were closed. It wasn’t until the actual rays of light from the sun kissed the
Lotus petals, that they began to open right in front of me. I guess I have been
too busy in the past to really notice this. As the flowers opened, I realized
that the outside of the white leaves were bruised a bit and had little brown
spots. They weren’t really pretty. However, as each pedal gently separated from
the others, their true beauty was exposed on the inside. Inside, the petals
appeared to be flawless, soft and bright.  

A gradient yellow color started bright in the flower’s center and became
lighter and lighter as it rose toward the petals tips. One by one, the flowers
many layers opened. The flower appeared to have it’s own light coming from
within its center. So beautiful! 

I did some research on my phone while
watching this amazing flower bloom before my very eyes and found that:  the lotus flower signifies a flawless
and timeless divine beauty. It’s opening petals, the potential for the soul to
expand and blossom into beauty and divinity. They symbolize the surrender of the
mind to the powers above and an openness and submissiveness even as the roots
are mired in muddy worldliness and sin. It is said they also symbolize not only
creation, but the timeless and continual process of birth and rebirth. And to
me, this morning, they represent how no matter where our roots are planted, if
we carry our fire and light inside, we can shine no matter where we are. 
We carry our lives in our own hands. 

What symbols do you have in your lives that remind you of who you are and where you are going?

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