Finding light after reflection (16 Sep 25)

Finding Light After Reflection

Last Saturday, I visited Mandai Columbarium to honor my father-in-law on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month - a time for remembrance and connection with those who've passed on. After prayers and quiet reflection, I found myself at a nearby nursery, and this stunning purple water lily stopped me in my tracks.

Standing there, I felt my breath catch. The delicate purple petals seemed to glow against the deep green leaves, each one perfectly formed, radiating a quiet strength that spoke directly to my heart. There's something profound about encountering such breathtaking beauty right after moments of deep contemplation about life and loss. This flower, emerging pure from muddy water, felt like a gentle message from the universe - perhaps even from him.

Every ending carries the seed of new beginning. Just as this water lily rises untouched from murky depths, our most challenging experiences often become the fertile ground for wisdom and growth.

Presence transforms ordinary moments into sacred ones. Had I been rushing, distracted by my phone or lost in busy thoughts, I might have walked right past this moment of natural grace. But being fully present after meaningful prayers opened my eyes to unexpected beauty.

Cycles of life continue in their own perfect timing. The 7th lunar month reminds us that love and memory transcend physical presence. Like flowers that return season after season, the connections that matter most endure and bloom again in different forms.

Beauty often appears when we're most open to receiving it. After honoring the past, my heart was tender and receptive. Sometimes our most profound insights come not when we're actively seeking them, but when we're simply present and available to what life offers.

This single flower reminded me that even in life's muddy waters - grief, uncertainty, challenge - something beautiful is always trying to emerge.

What unexpected beauty has caught your attention when you were simply being present?

🌷 from Linda's desk @ Tulip Meadows 🌷