I have some fall blooming phlox in both my front and backyards.  The stems grow upwards of 7 feet tall and are filled with light purple-blue blossoms with yellow centers.  As I get up close I see that the plants are alive with small butterflies and bees darting about blossoms as the plants sway in the breeze.  Today, with sunshine and temps approaching 80 it’s the butterflies who dominate the action.  I find the scene mesmerizing and can stand for a length of time just watching.  The flowers, and flying creatures pay me no notice.

I am reminded of Jesus words about anxiety as recorded in Matthew 6.  “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  The butterflies, bees and I myself spend all summer watching the plants grow.  All those months of waiting are worth it when the crowns of beauty blossom on the ends of the plants.  Standing and watching eases whatever anxiety may be lurking in the mind.  The phlox, bees and butterflies are working in behalf of one another, becoming a living though silent sermon.

Soon enough frost will come and Jesus words will find fulfillment.  “God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven…”  I won’t throw the frozen stems in our electric oven.  That would wreak havoc.  But they will be cut down and into pieces and placed out by the street some Sunday evening where they will await the yard waste truck to come by on Monday morning.  The stems will be composted and we wait through the winter for the cycle to start again.

Jesus reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.  Yes, even the fall swaying phlox alive with butterflies and bees.