Last year, our children bought a plant for my wife for Mother’s Day. It was a beautiful tropical plant that required Mercury in the upper echelon of the thermometer and lots of H2O in the atmosphere to keep the humidity at an acceptable level. Of course our Louisiana summer cooperated splendidly, and the plant thrived. As it often happens with new and fascinating acquisitions, the plant moved from its prominent position in the center of the table to a still-important decorative item near the window to an afterthought to be watered near the front door and finally to the front porch to be viewed and cared for only sporadically. Days on the calendar were marked off; Summer became Fall then Winter; The Plant withered and died.
Not long after 2019 turned into 2020, I was on the front porch getting some firewood when I noticed the pretty pink pot the aforementioned plant used to live in. Nostalgic thoughts of the day all our kids were all in our home to love on Mom for Mother’s Day began to flood back. My wife loved the plant and the kids loved that she loved the plant and I just loved that in the changing season of life, the whole family was able to coordinate work schedules and life events to be together even if it was just for a brief time. It was the best of times, because everyone was together. It was the worst of times, because the moment would all-too-soon be a memory. It was the best of times and the worst of times all at the same time.
Back to the plant…the memories of the moment the plant came to reside at our house were flooding through my mind when I noticed something white just above the surface of the soil. As best as I could tell, it looked like a bulb, and my wife – the one in our family with the green thumb – agreed. With speed and urgency that would relegate Usain Bolt to the intramural league, we re-established the plant’s prominent place at the center of the table and began a regimen of warmth and water in an effort to coax the bulb to reveal whether there was still any life remaining within. It was the worst of times, because we had neglected the plant allowing it to get to this point. It was the best of times, because a glimmer of hope for life to come was still shining. It was the best of times and the worst of times all at the same time.
The worst of times tend to hit us from the blind side in these lives we live. Our health fails…a relationship falls apart…a job ends…a loved one passes…it dawns on us that we’re getting older…and on and on it goes. Yet in the same way, the best of times can sneak up on us too…sometimes right in the middle of one of life’s worst times. The boss from the soon-to-be new job calls…a long-lost friend or family member comes to town…you find out you’re going to be a mommy or daddy (or in our case, Grammie and Poppa)…the preacher gives a sermon that lifts you up…a stranger brightens your day…and on and on. We really do sometimes experience the best and the worst simultaneously. In the midst of it all, let me encourage you to remember that it was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that, right smack dab in the middle of the worst time His disciples would ever have, spoke words of encouragement to them by saying, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3). Into their very real worst time, Jesus encouraged them to focus on the best time yet to come, and I hope we can do the same!
Oh, the bulb began to grow. A few green strands turned into a healthy bunch of growth, and the pretty plant in the pink pot is well on its way to recovery and beauty! It is the best of times! And I pray some best of times moments are heading your way even as you read these words! And now, somewhere on down life’s road, whether grieving over this world’s pathetic pink pots or rejoicing over good-looking green growth, with the best of times and worst of times happening all at the same time…I’ll see you in the Great Outdoors!
Rod & Staff Outdoor Ministries 