Unfolding the Rose

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A young, new priest was walking with an older, more seasoned priest in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older priest for some advice. The older priest walked up to a rose bush and handed the young priest a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing any of the petals.

The young priest looked in disbelief at the older priest and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But, because of his great respect for the older priest, he proceeded to try and unfold the rosebud while keeping every petal intact.  It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the young priest's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older priest began to recite the following poem:

            It is only a tiny rosebud
            A flower of God's design;
            But I cannot unfold the petals
            With these clumsy hands of mine.
            The secret of unfolding flowers
            Is not known to such as I.

            GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
            Then, in my hands, they die.
            If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
            The flower of God's design,
            Then how can I have the wisdom
            To unfold this life of mine?

            So, I'll trust in Him for leading
            Each moment of my day.
            I will look to Him for His guidance
            Each step of the Pilgrim's way

            The pathway that lies before me
            Only my Heavenly Father knows.
            I'll trust him to unfold the moments,
            Just as He unfolds the rose.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 4 (2006).

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