Jack’s Winning Words 5/12/14
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”  (A.A. Milne)  There’s a sign standing in someone’s garden…”Pretty Weeds.”  In fact, many weeds are pretty…even the dandelion (which has been around for 30 million years).  A flower or a weed?  It’s a matter of judgment.  A weed is simply an unwanted plant.  Too often society judges people in a similar way.  Today, try looking at those around you…differently.  ;-)  Jack

FROM TRIHARDER:  If only dandelions would only bloom in the desert.====JACK:  If only the "undesirables" would somehow go someplace else....?====TH:  Have you ever seen "wildflowers" bloom in the desert?  They are rare and beautiful.  I was in Death Valley shortly after peak wildflower season -- a desert floor covered with yellow "flowers". The color of the dandelion, it seems, would be a welcome addition to the desert floor.====JACK:  I like the saying, "Bloom where you are planted."  Sometimes it takes the right time and circumstances to bring out the beauty in plants and people.  Van Gogh was not truly appreciated in his time and circumstance.

FROM HONEST JOHN:  I remember as a kid bringing dandelion bouquets to my Mom. ====JACK: At what age do dandelions lose their "prettiness?"  Or, do they ever?  The old saying is true..."It's the thought that counts!"====JOHN:  My dandelion bouquets were probably amongst the best presents I ever gave anyone.====JACK:  I wonder at what age we change our sense of values?  I don't know that I would now go out and pick a bouquet of dandelions and give them to my wife.  But, maybe I should, and see what her reaction would be.

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Some painting masterpieces feature poppies growing wild in the the field and they are valued at millions of dollars, yet dandelions like that are scorned.  Why?  I suppose each weed, like each of us, was put here for a purpose, so we should "cut some slack" for weeds, and have empathy for those indigent around us trying to survive.====JACK:  A few years ago when Detroit was hosting the Super Bowl and many out-of-towners came to the city, the streets were swept, vacant storefronts were boarded up, and pretty pictures were painted on them.  Even homeless people found room in the shelters.  Since then, improvements have been made...but what to do about the homeless is still a problem, as it is in many cities.

FROM TARMART REV:  ... or, to put it another way... look at ourselves differently, now... without such prejudices... it opens up into a much broader vision into God's creation!!====JACK:  Thanks for that reminder.  Sometimes when we are "down in the dumps," we might see ourselves as of not much value.  During those times we need a reminder that "God don't make junk!"

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Enjoyed your WW words again this morning.  In Southfield, we are having a Junior Master Gardener Volunteer class, 9 kids 8 to 11 years old.  Since it's so early and the weather is so iffy, hot and cold and hot and cold and we speculated we might not get outside on Saturday mornings to plant in the Peace Garden, about 5 weeks ago brought some weeds from the Peace Garden inside our house here.  They are making some sort of pretty houseplants.  Next Saturday, we are going to tip them out of the pots and examine the root system and so forth and talk about weeds.  Going to try to google the weeds I have here and see if I can get a list together of each of their good points.====JACK:  Since a weed is classified as an unwanted plant, maybe you're not growing weeds, after all.  When we study "the roots," perhaps the "unwanted (plants and people)" have a value that we don't recognize.  Congratulations!  In your community, you have Peace Places side by side, the garden and the church.

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  Were the Flower Children flowers or weeds? They were certainly different.====JACK:  I guess God loves both flowers and weeds, since he created them.  Do you suppose it could be that way with people, too? 

FROM JM IN MICHIGAN:  What a great idea for a children's message -- thanks, Jack!====JACK:  Not bad for an adult message, too.

FROM AW IN ILLINOIS:  My favorite weed-flower is the dandelion, for its complexity, determination, willing to share seeds, and tenacity.====JACK:  I like the trillium, a reminder of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

FROM CORNHUSKER DON:  Why do we kill weeds in the lawn --- that want to grow -- and fertilize lawns for grass that doesn't 'want' to grow?====JACK:  In some ways, this could apply to what happens in our educational system, too.

FROM CWR IN MICHIGAN:  ....excellent.....from one weed to another....====JACK:  In God's garden you are regarded as a flower...child.