Murky Waters

Paddle boarding down a stream or in the backwater of a lake gives a person unprecedented access to nature and its beautiful landscape.  Birds chirping, land and water creatures stirring about, and a peaceful silence from the real world greet you. This can be the perfect escape from the stressors of life.

Within the beauty of the murky backwaters there is always something unpleasant underneath the landscape. Much like in life, what we see externally may not tell the internal story.  Within the murky backwaters, there is a heroic story that happens every day. 

In the muddy still waters a flower roots itself in the muck below.  The flower submerges itself every night in the mud below and miraculously reblooms after emerging the next day without stains.  This is the story of a lotus flower.

The lotus flower is a symbol of strength, resilience and rebirth. Our lives at times resemble the daily life cycle of a lotus flower.  It may be a miscarriage, addiction, the loss of a loved one or something else that makes life murky.  Much like a lotus flower it is the murky times that help us to grow into the person God has intended us to be. You see, experiencing an adverse situation in life brings many challenges, doubts, brings out the “ugly” in us as humans and Christians. These adverse situations are like the lotus flower brewing in the murky waters underneath where nobody can see the beauty in the moment. Instead, we as humans see the nasty, painful, ugliness of the murky waters. Lotus flowers persevere through these tough waters, creating a beautiful, brightly colored bloom for all to enjoy on the outside. The beauty and enjoyment the bloom brings resembles the strength and resilience of humans experiencing adverse situations as it allows each individual to rise above, to see and bring peace and beauty to the world.

The story of how the lotus flower shows perseverance and resilience on a daily basis is why it became a symbol for Puzzled. It is important for us to remember that the beauty of a lotus flower cannot be created without some mud. It is up to us to use our murky times to help shape our futures and to live out the life God has chosen for us. Always remember there is beauty in all seasons of life!  

XOXO

Mark and Megan