Red Poppies for Remembrance
I’m sure you’ve noticed that British people tend to wear a red poppy pin annually on Remembrance Day. If you don’t know why - hold your hat for an incredibly beautiful story of redemption and resurrection.
During the First World War there was a battlefield known as Flanders Field. Approximately 87 000 soldiers lost their lives during the battle on Flanders Field and due to the enormous amount of lives lost, the decision was made to turn the battlefield into a mass grave, instead of having to identify each soldier individually.
During the process of digging the mass grave and burying the bodies beneath the ground, the 'shaking up' of the ground caused thousands of red poppy seeds that were hidden beneath the surface to come to the superficial region of the ground and get in touch with sunlight, water and all other conditions required for germination and growth.
The dormant seeds could finally germinate and start blooming.
When Spring hit - the entire Flanders Field was an ocean of red poppies. The mass grave turned into a blooming field of red redemption.
Goosebumps, right?
New life forged in the fire
Another flower-related story that breathes life into this metaphor, is the process of a protea seed’s germination: In the South African fynbos regions, a controlled wildfire is ignited every 10-15 years amongst fynbos plants to regenerate seeds and to ignite their germination.
Proteas (an indigenous flower in South Africa) are particularly in need of this fire every few years, so that their seeds can regenerate and start to bloom.
This essentially boils down to - no fire, no bloom.
Poppies, Proteas and Prayers
The first time I came across both of these stories, it gripped my heart and enabled me to gain insight into the preciousness of seasons of suffering. When everything within or around us feels dead, when we go through the fire, our natural inclination is to scorn these seasons and beg for God to end it.
Let’s see what He has to say about it:
“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.
Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.
Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”
Matthew 16:24 (MSG)
The more we fight against fire or try to fight it with our own fire, the more we are burned by the flames.
The more we allow Him to carry us through the fire, the more we gain insight into the refined beauty that is brought forth by the fire.
“When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)
The perfect seed
In the innermost part of each human, we have been given a spirit - this spirit is either dead (unregenerated) or it has been made alive through regeneration. The moment we receive Him as our Saviour and lay down our lives for Him, He breathes life into our spirit.
A seed is germinated.
Having a living spirit allows us the opportunity to be transformed from the inside out, as we allow His Spirit to commune with us and beautify our soul into a holy place where He dwells and moves.
This potential, this seed, within our spirit is boundless and it contains everything that we could ever need for this life.
“as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”
II Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
Nurturing this seed and allowing it to germinate, bloom and become something beautiful, is completely up to us. He never forces us into growth and maturity. He certainly beckons us there, but the decision is still our own if we want to be co-gardeners with Him or not.
Back to suffering…
As some of you might know, our seasons of suffering tend to be our most treasured seasons spiritually (in hindsight, of course!). When we are forced to our knees and we decide to stay there, He is offered a chance to work gently and deeply within us.
To make use more than we could ever make of ourselves.
To bring forth refined gold.
To bring forth divine beauty from deep within that we could never synthesise on our own.
To breathe life and purpose deep inside of us.
There is no magic wand to end suffering. There is, however, a holy encounter waiting for you - an encounter powerful enough to bring you a peace that transcends all understanding. An encounter that longs to beautify you in the midst of suffering, so that everything dormant within your spirit could spring forth into bloom.
A time to bloom
If you are enduring a season of suffering right now, I pray you won’t allow it to make you bitter or resentful.
I pray you will rend your heart and allow Him to be everything you need.
I pray you will hold onto the vision of the red poppy field - knowing that there is a time for everything under the sun.
Including a time to bloom.
