Beauty is everywhere, including in the abstract patterns of nature. Last week my eyes were drawn to the interplay of light and shadows in the leaves of some iris plants that have not yet bloomed in the garden of my neighbor Cindy Dyer. I love the series of triangles and straight lines in the resulting image and there is something soothing and peaceful about the various shades of green.
When I posted this image in Facebook, my pastor noted that these leaves reminded her of the palms that we would normally be waving in a procession to begin the celebration of Palm Sunday. In a few hours we will be celebrating in a different way, via Zoom teleconferencing software, but we have been asked to gather some branches or colorful pieces of cloth to wave in front of our cameras as we say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” This pandemic has changed some of the outward aspects of our worship, but we continue on.
Whether you are Christian or not, my prayer is that this Sunday finds you feeling thankfulness in the midst of this crisis for what you still have and not merely lamenting that which you have lost. I also pray that you are filled with the joyful hope that we will eventually make it through this difficult time. If there is one thing we have certainly learned, it is that we are truly all in this together.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I share those prayers back with you,Mike.
Thanks, Dan.
I could not have imagined that simple green leaves could be as beautiful as these appear in your photograph. They do indeed look like palm fronds. I was feeling a bit down earlier today due to this being the first palm-less Palm Sunday that I can ever remember. You are entirely correct! Whilst we will surely miss those people and coming events that we hold so dear, we must not forget to appreciate all that we do have. Thank-you, Mr.Mike!
Well said.
I attended online too and, different though it most certainly was, it’s a comfort to know that many others are also coming together in spirt. Beautiful post, Mike.
Beautiful sentiments as well as photo, Mike. Let us find the good and praise it.
Thanks, Eliza. Amen!
Even though I’m late to read this, it’s a lovely post Mike and I’ve enjoyed everything – the lovely photo and related thoughts that you’ve shared. Thank you! A cheerful thing … lockdown does work when done properly – our stats on new cases are flattening out and look to be heading down. Still early days yet but our leaders are starting to let themselves sound somewhat optimistic 🙂