In Ashes and the Phoenix, writer Glenice Robinson-Como, describes the function of the heliotrope, or form of sunflower. The flower’s name comes from the Greek words helios (sun), and tropos (turn) and describes its process for growth. Robinson-Cano’s analogy of the heliotrope;” Just as the sunflowers and their plant relatives are drawn to the sunlight for growth and development, so too should we be children of light, a kind of ‘sunflower’ drawn to the light of God for spiritual growth and development (page 35).”
I would share with you that I am always turned toward God’s light in my own pilgrimage, yet I struggle and wrestle with words and actions that draw me away. Robinson-Cano states; “Perhaps we turn away from Jesus because of our insecurities; perhaps we don’t feel worthy (page 35).” As we, together, continue the pilgrimage through Lent towards the celebration of the Resurrection, may we lift up and challenge each other to constantly and prayerfully, turn our hearts and minds to God, to receive God’s gift of growth and development.
“The essence of Easter is an open invitation to turn our whole selves-our insides and our outsides- to bask in the love and light of a God who will never forsake us. Whenever we fall short of what we have been called to do and to be in the world, Jesus bids us to turn. The more we incline our hearts to God, the more our response to the true light becomes a natural response, something we don’t even realize we are doing, just something we were made to do (page 35).”