Saturday, June 23, 2012

Invisible essential things

Photo courtesy of Kristin Espinasse--http://french-word-a-day.com
          I love this picture of climbing roses beside the tiled roofed house in France.  When I see this picture it reminds me of my favorite part of the book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.  You see the little prince loved his rose, and he thought she was the only one of her kind in the universe.  He lived on a planet no bigger than a house with three tiny volcanos and his rose as his sole companions. He tends to them faithfully each day.  He makes an unfortunate decision to leave his planet, and he travels to earth, where one day after traveling a long lonely road in search of  men, he comes upon a rose garden.  He is immediately amazed and overcome with sadness.  Realizing that his rose is not the only one in all the world, he lay down in the grass and cried. 

          Later the little prince befriends a fox, who wants very much to be tamed so he will have a friend.  He tells the little prince his secret.  It is only with the heart that one can see rightly because what is essential is invisible to the eyes.  The little prince comes to realize through his relationship with the fox that we are responsible forever for those we have tamed.  He understands that because of the time he has spent caring for his rose, she has become his rose and that is what makes her so important.  When he sees the rose garden for the second time, he no longer thinks that the other flowers look anything like his rose.
 
What do you think of the fox's philosophy?  


My daughter Melanie Giovino and her kitty Roscoe.

"...for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7a (NKJV).

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7 comments:

  1. POSTCARDS FROM PUERTO VALLARTAJune 23, 2012 at 5:21 AM

    DEAREST ROSE,

    Thank you for your lovely post this morning regarding the wisdom of seeing with the heart. I love the direction you have pointed my mind this morning - lately I have been back on that old ferris wheel of searching for the truth regarding the state of the world through examining all of the latest news and then checking all the worldly news with articles of history etc. Thank God I have my little fox perched on my shoulder, close to my ear so I can hear the counseling and guideance of the Holy Spirit. To find refuge in the wisdom and comfort of the Holy Spirit, to remember to quiet myself before God - to search the scriptures with a pure and now Holy Heart thanks to the sacrifice and payment for our blindness and self-willingness to follow our own drumbeat was the greatest gift from Jesus.

    I am always reminded of Paul's teaching - I die daily - I am sorry I am not a Bible scholar so I can't give you complete directions to this wisdom but I do know I can type that into my little Google box and reinforce my knowledge today thanks to the internet. I am so happy that you are now on the internet working away in your office, and in your spirit to guide all of your new friends along this path to freedom. Life doesn't have to be so complicated once you hear the pure word of truth - thanks for planting your seeds this morning.

    Also, I love your rose photo...are you into photography? I hope you will continue to use more of Kristi's photo's from French-Word-A-Day - she has so many - and I don't even think she realizes how her heart has affected all of her photo's.

    XOXO

    JULES

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  2. Rose Chandler JohnsonJune 23, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    Thank you Jules for sharing your meditation this morning. The sincerity of your heart speaks to my own. Your kind words bless me and I have a tear of joy. Praise God for the unity of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I am just embracing the internet as a tool for ministry. God's blessings to you.

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  3. JeanneRobinJune 23, 2012 at 7:28 AM

    Thank you Jules for sharing this blog with your Facebook friends, and thank you Rose for sharing this delightful story. God bless you both.

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  4. mary paulsonJune 23, 2012 at 8:57 AM

    Thank you Rose for your blog. I look forward to reading your blog .

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  5. AnonymousJune 23, 2012 at 2:45 PM

    That's beautiful, Rose. I miss that story. It was my favourite in elementary school. In later years, Mother used to tell me how she recalled me coming home from school saying "draw me a flower" as the little prince had asked.

    Hebrews 11:1 says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

    The little fox was right. We must see with our heart. For what we see with our eyes will all pass away.

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  6. Jeanette LevellieJuly 6, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    Dear Rose: I had never heard this story! Thanks for sharing it. I agree--we need to ask Jesus to give us eyes in our hearts to see through the outward appearances.

    Have a lovely weekend,
    Jen

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  7. Rose Chandler JohnsonJuly 6, 2012 at 6:16 PM

    Ah, I'm so glad I introduced you to it. It's really very sweet and so true.

    You too.
    Be blessed.

    ReplyDelete

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