Lessons from the Lotus

So after 11 months of eating lotus root—since China cooks and serves it many different ways in every province I’ve been to—I learned just last night that there is a very special meaning behind the lotus flower.  My Chinese roommate, Nancy, started explaining it to me, so I did some of my own research this afternoon. “The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the water’s surface continually moving towards the light. Once it comes to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.” My roommate’s explanation was similar, talking of the mud this flower begins in, and how incredible it is that it rises above the water so pure, clean, and beautiful. Its life begins in a less-than-ideal, even harsh, environment, one full of mud and mire; but it pushes through the mud until it breaks through the surface of the water a stunningly beautiful flower. As Nancy explained to me, and as I read more online today about “the lotus flower, bringing beauty and light from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond,” I instantly pictured my time here in China. Although I was sent here to bring this “beauty and light,” I instead felt covered with mud for most of my time here. I spent so much time being selfish, having a pity party, wishing I could leave, even questioning my faith… I hated who I was becoming, as I felt like the mud of the world and my own selfishness were killing me inside. And yet, somehow—clearly by no effort of my own—I kept being lifted further up, gradually feeling some of the mud falling off of me. And although I do not claim to be a beautiful lotus flower now, nor have I ever felt hat way… I was reminded that God sees me that way. Even when I am the most covered in mud, not having the victory I would like and expect to see in my life, He still sees me as a pure, stunning lotus flower—a flower that He is growing further and further away from the mud, closer and closer to the surface of the water and the Son. And God’s role in all of this… leads me into the next part of this lotus flower description.

After the actual ‘flower’ background, Nancy then explained that the seeds of the lotus root, which live in the very center of all the petals, have another meaning all together. Apparently the name of the seeds in Chinese is pronounced the same as the Chinese phrase that describes parents really loving their children and wanting the best for them.  So there again, I was reminded how much God loves me—just as a parent loves his/her child with that ‘parent love,’ which I know I can’t yet fully grasp. I picture parents who, although their children are quite faulted, see only how good-looking, talented, and wonderful they are. These parents are able, and sometimes even unable not to, see past all their children’s faults and struggles because their love is so deep. But on an even deeper level than this ‘parent love,’ God’s love, through the blood of Jesus, washes away all of that ‘mud’ from His children completely… so much so that He doesn’t even see it covering His lotus flowers. Yes, He lets us go through murky, muddy water at times… but that is only because He loves us and wants His best for us. We may not understand why we have to be at the bottom of the pond, but He always does. So regardless of where we are in the pond—bottom, middle, or top—we are still lotus flowers… and He has created us to be beauty amidst ashes, light in the darkness, spectacular flowers inside a muddy pond. :)

The last part of the lotus flower that Nancy explained to me is the leaves. She said that the round shape of the leaves is supposed to represent family and togetherness. These leaves also have medicinal value that can be compared to the healing nature that being with family can bring. My time in China has really shown me how critical this analogy of the leaves is in my life. This year was the first time I was really away from family—my physical family, as well as the family of believers—and this sort of isolation, although I was always surrounded by people, was incredibly hard for me. God reminded me that, although He is ultimately enough to meet all of our needs, He has also created us to live life together as brothers and sisters in Christ—and to really need this support from each other.  

So basically, I—at 25 years old—have finally decided upon my favorite flower. I love the striking metaphor of the lotus flower and am so grateful for the life-changing reminders it brings. No matter how muddy the water is and the flower feels… He still sees, and is carrying up, up, and up… His beautiful lotus flower.