The Sunflower on the Shoulder

While driving out to Hurst to play pickleball last weekend, a vibrant display of green and yellow caught my attention on the shoulder of State Highway 121. Located just past the Beach Street exit, this wonder of nature likely stood over two feet tall. It appeared alone amidst the black asphalt—an outgrowth of a crack in the road with no other living thing in sight.

As I sped by this natural anomaly, several thoughts raced through my mind. First, this flower has no business thriving on one of the most frustrating highways in the DFW. I don’t know how quickly sunflowers grow, but I assume a 30-inch sunflower would be months old at least. Given that Dallas drivers aren’t exactly known for their carefulness, I pondered the plant’s apparent luckiness in avoiding a premature date with the Michelin Man.

Second, I pondered the profoundness of this green and yellow outgrowth on its black, busy backdrop. At times, all of us feel like we’re alone and in the dark. Like this sunflower endures the blistering heat of the sun and the unyielding rush of traffic, we must endure the suffering, busyness, and loneliness of life. Nevertheless, even in seasons where we feel lost and out of place, God can use us to bring hope and light to others—just like He used the sunflower on the shoulder to bring light and hope to me.

Finally, I considered how the imagery of the sunflower on the shoulder perfectly encapsulates the message of Matthew 6: 25-34. In these verses, Jesus uses the birds of the air and the lilies of the field to exemplify why we should trust in God and avoid anxiety. Ultimately, if God can care for the sunflower on the shoulder, certainly he can do the same for us. Have a Blessed Monday!