A parishioner from one of my earlier parish put this on facebook. I feel like the young minister trying to open the flower of the Italian language.
GOD'S ROSEBUD
A new minister was walking with an older,
more seasoned minister in the garden one day.
Feeling a bit insecure about what God wanted him to do,
he asked the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed
the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it
without tearing off any petals.
The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older
preacher 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 preacher,
he proceeded to try to unfold the rose,
while keeping every petal intact.
It wasn't long before he realized
how impossible this was to do.
Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold
the rosebud without tearing it,
the older preacher 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 easily,
But in my hands they die."
"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"
"So I'll trust in God to lead me
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step along the way."
"For the path that lies before us,
Only our Lord and Savior knows.
So trust Him to unfold your life,
Just as He would this precious rose."
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone