Bloomers

I have an orchid that grows by my front door. My mother gave it to me. It has a lovely milky white flower that blooms when I water it consistently. The spidery bloom lasts for weeks and seems to put up with my sporadic gardening. The one curious thing about this orchid is that it has no scent in the daytime. You can put your nose right up to the bloom opening and sniff hard and get nothing.

When evening comes and the darkness enfolds the plant, you no longer see the beautiful bloom. But you do start to notice a light fragrance dancing on the breeze. It’s not like the heady gardenia or sweet red rose. It’s a fragrance that lets you know something special is lingering there and bids you to come a bit closer. I am content some evenings to stay outside longer in the moonlight with the dogs and my fragrant orchid. It reminds me of the scent of a loved one when you embrace—just light enough to linger in the warmth of the hug and it’s gone.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 , “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”

My husband’s daughter has to deal with death sometimes—she knows the aroma well. And if it smelled anything like my orchid, she would not be so quick to jump in a hot shower. It clings to her clothing and hair like no perfume and can only be scrubbed away.

We are like that orchid to God. In this world of darkness, we are the sweet fragrance of Christ that bids the lost to come closer and drink it in. Be encouraged, you don’t have to have physical beauty or even be planted in a special pot. You just have to be willing to bloom where you’re planted.