 It is in the muck and the mire of the pond bottom that the roots of this impossibly beautiful flower – the symbol of enlightenment in many cultures – finds a way to thrive. Indeed, this plant needs the muck and mire to grow properly. In addition to providing nourishment, this unlikely environment helps the lotus blossom regulate its temperature in order to attract insects that it needs to reproduce.
Much like illness providing us with a seemingly impossible environment in which to grow, we look to the lotus as a symbol of hope that great beauty and life will come from adversity. It is in fact a by-product of that adversity. The great Desmond Tutu tells us: “Suffering is indispensable to glory.” The lovely petals on the lotus flower open to accept light, moisture, air and life giving insects that will let it live for many generations. In much the same way that we must find a way to open ourselves – even amid the muck of mire that cancer creates – to the life giving nourishment of love and hope offered by others. |
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