Unexpected Surprise

Take a look at this picture. It's a crab apple flower. Believe it or not, I took this picture this morning. This morning -- it's September, in case you haven't noticed. Crab apple trees do not bloom in September.

I'm sure that there is a blog post in the picture, but I'm debating what the theme of it might be.

This could be a reminder about God's timing. We want things to happen when we want them to happen. We can't always (if ever) see the big picture. This flower may be blooming now, but its timing is so off, that I doubt it has the opportunity to fulfill its purpose -- to develop into the fruit that it was destined to become. God knows timing, and if we listen, he will lead us through it. Wait. Act. do something else. His leading will make us fruitful, and will help us to reach the full potential for which we were created rather than suffering from the dangers of frostbite or cold weather.

BUT

This flower could also be a reminder to expect life in God's world to be unpredictable. When we think we have it all figured out, a crab apple blooms in September. It's beautiful and unexpected. God's action in our lives and in the lives of those around us can often be surprising. Unexpected. Unpredictable. Sometimes we just need to let go of our preconceptions and step back to see what God will do. When we can't solve a problem and think it is unsolvable, step back and see what God will do. When we think there is only one path, God will make a way that we would never have imagined.

A tiny flower. What does it say to you?