Before I moved last fall, my walk to work took me from the outskirts of town through residential neighborhoods to my office. Since relocating across town, my route takes me through a wider variety of neighborhoods, including the downtown business district and what pass for industrial areas in my small city.

About a week ago, while walking by a machine shop/parts yard I was surprised to see a red rose thrusting its face to the sun through the corroded chain link fence surrounding this patch of weedy wasteland.

Even though obviously neglected, with leaves mottled by insect and disease and only rusty scrap metal mulching its planting bed, this bush had responded to the blessed happenstance of rain and sun by creating a brilliant red blossom as beautiful and sweet-smelling as any specimen in a cultivated garden.

In the days that followed, the little bush added more buds and blossoms for the enjoyment and encouragement of every random passerby.  Every time I saw it the phrase, “bloom where you are planted,” popped into my mind, inspiring me to try to find purpose and joy in my every circumstance, too.

In this Resurrection season, it does my heart good to remember Christ as he was “planted” in a poor manger, planted in a conquered and politically volatile country, planted on a cross, planted in a tomb…and how He did bloom!

Have a blessed Holy Week.