The Transience of Life

These are some stunning Mr Lincoln roses from our garden.

They look stunning. They smell magnificent. We have three bushes out the window (two Mr Lincolns and one Camp David – they are very Presidential!) and when the window is open the breeze wafts the joyful aroma through.

In a couple of weeks these flowers will be dead.

During their short life they have brought emotion and meaning to others. We have loved and appreciated them. Maybe someone walked past and saw them and smiled because of the one they love. Maybe they walked past and missed someone who used to be in their life who loved roses. Often our impact can be deep and unknown to us.

Sometimes the blooms last for a long time and sometimes they go well before their time due to hungry possums, disease or a mistake while pruning.

Our lives are like that of these roses.

Sometimes we bring joy just by being there but to others we may bring discomfort, through no ill will of our own. Sometimes our lives are shorter than we want and others times our inner strength sustains us.

It is important to enjoy life while you have it. Enjoy the interactions that come your way. Learn to recognise the short term inconveniences for what they are – short term. Adjust to live with the long term inconveniences.

Like a rose, sometimes you have manure spread around you (physical or symbolic) but understand it will make you stronger and while it may stink, you will end up smelling like roses.