The Rose

"The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt." Thomas Merton

I have lived in southern California now for more than half my life. One of the things I love about it is the warm weather and I am very spoiled now. We don't have four distinct seasons. We don't have the rust and gold of autumn, the bare trees and snow of winter, the spring when things begin to thaw and trees blossom, summer when the flowers are in full bloom, only to being that cycle all over again. But no matter where we live, life has seasons. I can remember living in Pennsylvania where the cold, bleak winter seemed to go on forever. Yet spring always came, even if it was later than what I wanted.

A few days ago, I heard this old song for the first time in years. I used to think it was about romantic love, and it is, I guess. But this time it struck me with its simple lyrics, to just be about life and the living of it.

Susan

"The Rose" written by Amanda McBroom