Beauty in the Different

Sometimes in the world of gardening, the unexpected happens.

A sport.

A genetic change which occurs in the plant's cells, unpredictable and noticeably different from the other flowers growing on the very same plant.

Spontaneous, unexpected, rare.

Gardener's highly regard this type of bloom. Treasured because it is different. Marveled over because it's distinctive. Mysterious because of its genetic variation.

In my third year of growing dahlias, this is the first time I have ever grown a sport. I am not surprised how this occurred the year my son has blessed us with his presence. How like God to show up yet again in the details.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for You created all things,

and by Your will they existed and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

If we look at the true Gardener, we know He lovingly sees and values every life by His design. No matter the genetics, the chromosomes, the deletions, the health risks. Even if we as people question the design, God still stands back and says,

"It is good."

He doesn't measure our worth by the excess or lack of chromosomes, limbs, life expectancy.

The "sports" of humankind exist so "the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3).

And if we can suspend our human idea of what works may look like, we can catch a glimpse of God. It might not be earthside healing, but possibly an opportunity to bring others to Christ. The opportunity to be the light. The chance to bring our suffering and pain to the feet of our Lord, who weeps with us. Life as a servant, washing others feet.

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (Genesis 1:26).

We are all made in God's image. There is no life deemed unworthy, imperfect or flawed. He sees us and knows us, well before the diagnosis is ever assigned prenatally.

"For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well" (Psalm 139:13-14).

If we stop and look around, not only do we see our great Artist's tiniest masterpieces, but we see how He is constantly leaving His little reminders around in our day to day lives.

Gardeners see the sport as a "little gem." How do we get the world to see every life as a piece of treasure? Life, regardless of statistics, measurements, viability. As followers of Christ, we have to see the beauty in the different. And possibly, society will catch on and too, spot the beauty found in the "sports."