Stop At The Crossroads And Look Around
I’m wondering what comes to your mind when you hear the comment “He is ancient”? What do you mean by ancient? Ancient is old, very old; it’s older than old. It belongs in the past, in the distant past. What did Jeremiah mean when he told the people to ask for the ancient paths?
We can go back in time to the beginning of our world and see how God has connected with people. The ancient paths that are successful began with God.
Talking about path’s reminds me about an experience that Loren and I had when we climbed Mt. Sinai. It’s summit is renowned for awe inspiring sunrise views. Each year hundreds of pilgrims and tourists want to reach the top of Mt. Sinai by sunrise. Leaving the motel at 2AM we felt it was worth our climb to reach the summit before sunrise.
On the way up I found myself ahead of Loren and between groups of people, it was dark with some light from the stars and moon. I came to where the path divided, so I took what I thought was the way, but it wasn’t long before it became more difficult with no clear path to follow. It became scary to me, the vastness of the wilderness, mountains and rocks made me feel lost and small, yet somehow a quiet peace surrounded me. Even with the quiet strength I felt around me, I was only too happy to return to the fork in the path and take the other path.
Every road or path takes you where you want to go. So when you come to the fork in the realm of decision making what do you do? Especially if both paths have either positives or negatives. Every day I find I make lots of decisions, some significant some just a matter of daily routine.
Don’t you feel at times when you stand at your crossroad, life just looks gray? The outlook of our world and our situations can be the color of gloom. The option down each path doesn’t offer any promise. There seems to be no answer. Or there might be two options that are awesome. Then the question comes to my mind, what is around the bend I can’t see, or what are the unintended consequences that I will have to face.
I like the song written by Paul Joseph Balache, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.” As we bring our thinking into alignment with God we can open the eyes of our hearts so we can see hope! So how can the ancient path help you. We can look a little deeper and are able to find provision and hope.
So often I have found when I pray and I am open to God’s still small voice, I start to get a sense of what God is revealing to me and that path I need to take. During the “seeking God’s will or guidance time,” I can look at how he has led people in the Bible, how he led me during the previous pivotal points in my life. I have found also there are times when someone will say something, or I will read something which seems to turn an idea on like a light bulb and I can see the decision I need to make. Over the years Loren and I have found sometimes there are decisions where there is no right or wrong, or if we make a wrong decision the Lord will arrange circumstances which will redirect our focus. Loren’s favorite text in this regard is Joshua 1:9 (NLT) “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Whatever our decision God honors our freedom of choice even though sometimes he needs to nudge us this way or that so we can see the ancient path he is directing us to.
As you see that ancient path and follow, you will be able to find that peace, happiness and contentment.
Love to you,
Ruth
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Chrysanthemum
November birth flower
Chrysanthemums are also called mums or chrysanths
A Chrysanthemum bloom appears to be a single flower but is actually composed of hundreds of smaller flowers called florets. Each one of these florets is capable of producing a seed, similar to its plant relative, the Sunflower.
The Chrysanthemums are divided into 13 classes based primarily on its bloom form.
The chrysanthemum is one of the most popular flowers, outshined only by the rose. It is a traditional flower to give on Mother’s Day.
Closely related to the daisy Chrysanthemum resembles a close cousin the mugwort weed which is often called the wild Chrysanthemum – Native to India, as ‘indicum’ means ‘Indian,’ the flower can be found wild in most habitats in India, China, Japan, Indochina, Portugal, and other temperate and subtropical regions.
Below are 8 types of Mums or forms of Mums as a sample of 13 classes. As you can see there is a wide in configuration.
Chrysanthemum History
In Japan, the chrysanthemum was adopted as the official seal of the Emperor following its introduction in that country in the 8th century AD. The Japanese Festival of Happiness is a celebration of the mum.
Chrysanthemums were first cultivated as a flowering herb in China in the 15th century BC with over 500 cultivars in existence by the early 1600’s.
The flower was brought to the Western World in the 17th century. It was named by Carolus Linnaeus from the Greek prefix chrys-, which means golden (the color of the original flowers), and -anthemon, meaning flower – thus golden flower.
The flower was introduced to Untied States in the late 1700’s when an imported variety identified as Dark Purple arrived from England courtesy of Colonel John Stevens. Enomoto Brothers of Redwood City, CA (San Mateo County) grew the first chrysanthemums to be grown in America.
They are native to Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia and the center of diversity is in China and have become the most widely cultivated flowers in the world
Chrysanthemum Symbols
The secret meaning of the mum is “You’re A Wonderful Friend.”
Symbolizes cheerfulness, rest, loveliness, optimism, joy, abundance, wealth.
Red means true love or “I love you.”
Yellow means slighted love or wounded heart.
White means truth, virtue of honesty, innocence, purity, and pure love.
Chrysanthemum In The Garden
Chrysanthemums are generally of two basic groups: The Garden Hardy variety and the Exhibition variety. Although the perfume of a rose can summon an idea of paradise, the chrysanthemum’s fragrance conjures a den of feral cats.
The Garden hardy mum are new perennials and as the name suggests, are a sturdy bunch, capable of being wintered over in the ground
in most Northern latitudes. They are capable of producing an abundance of small blooms with the least assistance and are able to withstand adverse weather conditions such as wind and rain. The right chrysanthemum flowers for your garden will come from a diverse selection of hardy or garden mums. When growing mums, you’ll find plants that are dwarf to giant, in colors from white and yellow to the deepest burgundy and purple. Some cultivars bloom in late summer, while others bloom as late as October. Garden mums are usually planted in the spring, and will bloom all summer and autumn. With plenty of time to put down roots, garden mums can live for three to four years in USDA zones 5-9.
Exhibition mum. Or mums, because there are a dozen or more forms and scores of varieties that are variably cute, exotic or simply stunning. All of them are interesting and fulfill this plant’s promise. Cinderella shall go to the ball. Some single blooms are the size of your head, others form tubular petals with openings redolent of tiny spoons, others raise the flower to a delicious tangle of threadlike petals.
Culinary uses
Yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers of the species C. morifolium are boiled to make a sweet drink. The resulting beverage is known simply as chrysanthemum tea and used in many parts of Asia. ( 菊 花 茶, pinyin: júhuā chá, in Chinese).
Chrysanthemum leaves are steamed or boiled and used as greens, especially in Chinese cuisine. The flowers may be added to thick snakemeat soup (蛇羹) to enhance the aroma.
Small chrysanthemums are used in Japan as a sashimi garnish.
In Korea, Gukhawaju is a rice wine flavoured with chrysanthemum flowers.
Chrysanthemum for medicinal purposes
The chrysanthemum flower is actually a powerful antiseptic and antibiotic! Chrysanthemum tea is said to cool the body, clear the liver, support immunity, recovery from influenza, to lower cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure, angina, relax the nervous system and slows aging.
The drink combined with other herbs, they are said to increase in potency and assist with dizziness and eyestrain as well as improving vision and comforts the eyes.
Another health benefit in the use of chrysanthemum tea is that it is believed ancient Chinese medicine points to chrysanthemum tea as offering long-term benefits related to blood and weight.
Chrysanthemum Notes:
The term “chrysanthemum” is also used to refer to a certain type of fireworks shells that produce a pattern of trailing sparks similar to a chrysanthemum flower.
King Tut (Tutankhamen) was said to have been buried wearing floral collars of chrysanthemums and insects are repelled by resins of the plant
Resins of the plant are used in incense cones to ward off insects
Chrysanthemum plants have been shown to reduce indoor air pollution by the NASA Clean Air Study.
flower is also a symbol of the sun.
Both the Chinese and Japanese consider chrysanthemums a powerful emblem of youth. A petal placed in the bottom of a glass of wine is thought to enhance longevity. The Chinese also believe that it prevents gray hair.
Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) can be used as a natural source of insecticide.
These plants can be very toxic, particularly to cats, dogs and horses and can cause dermatitis in humans.
They are considered to be safest insecticides for use around food and being biodegradable when exposed to light, they are also considered to be an eco-friendly product.
References:
http://www.proflowers.com/blog/november-birth-flower-chrysanthemum
http://www.birthflowersguide.com/november-birth-flower.html
http://www.almanac.com/content/november-birth-flower
https://www.babiesonline.com/flowersbirthmonth/Chrysanthemum.asp
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-hidden-world-of-exhibition-chrysanthemums/2015/10/20/ef9a7c54-736d-11e5-8248-98e0f5a2e830_story.html
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/chrysanthemum/chrysanthemum-lifespan.htm
http://www.e2121.com/herb_db/viewherb.php3?viewid=167
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum
