After some especially cold days and a few overnight inches of snow, I came across this rosy-pink heather blooming nearby. Heather is a hardy plant recognized for its strength and enduring ability to survive and even flourish under harsh conditions, whether that's thin, rocky soil, temperature extremes and fast changing, nasty weather. And so it is rightly recognized as a beautiful symbol of solitude and perseverance. One website says it symbolizes, "Staying the course even when all the tables seem to be turned against you."
Of course, these gospel verses may well come to mind as well — Luke 9:51ff
51 Now it happened that as the time drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. 52 These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him 53 but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. 54 Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" But he turned and rebuked them, 55 and they went on to another village.
Verse 51: Another translation says Jesus turned his face like flint.
Verse 52: The hatred of Jews and Samaritans for each other is well known. But that hatred found a particular expression towards Jews who were headed towards Jerusalem on pilgrimage. Samaritans worshipped on a different mountain and read different scriptures.
Verse 54: There are some Christians today who have, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up," in their hearts.
Verse 55: Nothing seems to catch a scolding from Jesus like twisted religion.
Back to the winter blooming heather — stay the course of doing what God has put before me to do and the essential inner work of turning my mind and heart to God's light.
