Christmas Blooms
As my Christmas cactus burst into blooms once again, I was reminded of my reflections last year. Here is a piece I wrote last Christmas that I believe still speaks today. It was written specifically to the congregation of the church that I pastor (Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Dallas) however I know it also applies to you. May God bless you as you bloom and grow!
These cacti, originally native to rain forest environs, need a time of rest. These are plants that need to be moved to either very indirect light or darkness for several months. About a month before I want them to bloom, I move them into the sunlight and increase their moisture. Soon I am greeted with a series of cascading blooms that truly are beautiful as well as delicate. My Easter cactus usually rests during Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, finding its way to new life during Lent. However, this year it received the same schedule and treatment as the Christmas cactus. The result? I have both red and white blooming cacti!
As I studied the buds and blooms, I found myself drawn to meditate on our own blooming as a community. The buds do not appear all at once nor do they all grow and blossom at the same rate. All over the plant, buds are appearing, growing, and breaking open in bloom. Daily, the picture of the plant changes and evolves, yet it is still the same cactus. It is lovely to watch.
Our spiritual community can be seen reflected in this cactus. We, too, need periods of rest, of taking our experiences and our learnings deep within. We need rest before the next cycle of growth and blossoming. It is rare to see only one blossom within a community. Generally, conditions are right for many blossoms to unfold, but not at the same moment.
I look at our spiritual community and see so many of you in full bloom! Others of you are about to burst into bloom and others are showing the bud of promise. You are beautiful to behold! In our community I see both new birth and resurrection of new life. Our blossoms give hope to the world around us. We are delicate and can be injured by forces in the world; however, we know that after another rest (time for grieving, for healing, for learning), we will bloom again!
The birth of Christ that we celebrate is not just one date in history. While we read the stories surrounding the birth of the historical Jesus, our Christmas celebrations are really about the ongoing birth and blossoming of the Christ Spirit in every one of us! Christ is the vine and we are the branches. Christmas reminds us of our new birth and our need to blossom over and over again. We are called to birth and resurrection, to experiencing rebirth throughout our lives.
This Christmas, may others find joy and hope in the beauty of your blossoming life. May you embody the Christ-Child Spirit! Bloom and grow!
© Colleen Darraugh, 2006