John 15This is my command that you love one another.

Love... Well, it should be the simplest thing, especially for us from the Hippy generation. We waved free love and peace signs over us, painted them on our vehicles, wore love beads, refused to go to war and watched love ins on tv.
Yet . . . human love is not easy.
Look at the holiday that we have just experienced. Valentine’s Day - the commercial day of love.
After spending years in the flower business, I learned a lot about people. It was easy to read their relationships through the way they purchased flowers.
Lines of men from the front door - through the cooler out to the cash register. You could watch their expressions - some just grabbing the first bouquet that they could reach - clenching it in their fists almost as tightly as their (doing their duty) lips. Many seemed hesitant - would pick one, then another, returning to the first and often in frustration grabbing a dozen roses. If you offered assistance you often received the same reply "Well... it doesn’t matter what I get, she won’t be happy with them." These sad faced men would then lay down their cash - scribble a note and walk out in despair - like sheep to the slaughter. Seriously.

Scattered among these were the men who were lovers. You could spot them right away. They wore smiles and their eyes sparkled in anticipation of the joy that their bouquets would bring. They chose carefully. They knew the colour and type of flower that would thrill their lovers. They took time to smell the flowers to see which were the most fragrant. Only the best would do for their love. Whether they were construction workers covered in grime or professors from the university, they bought what they could - often juggling the stuffed animals chocolates and perfume while writing beautiful long intimate love notes. These were the men who were passionate - passionately in love. They were expecting a passionate response - a joyous reception from their lovers.

It made me think of the vine... how Jesus used the natural example of the vine and the branches and how we would need to remain in the vine to bear fruit. I thought about the natural progression of a vine bearing fruit and realized that in order to bear fruit a vine must first flower.
I thought of Jesus as the vine and imagined the flower he would produce - A passionate lover releasing his very character into a delightfully fragrant bloom to attract us - drawing us into a passionate response, melting into one with our savior. Surrendering to his love and allowing him to have his way in our lives. Trusting in his love, until the fruit is fully formed.

Jesus knows how to produce the right flower to attract you. He knows what fragrance will draw you close to him. He wants to draw you into his passionate love. Surround you in it, fully embrace every part of you.

Are you one of the lovers who won’t accept the bloom - maybe you are drawn to the fragrance but not willing to embrace him fully. Maybe you have been hurt and you aren’t able to forgive - the pain is too much. Maybe you aren’t ready to submit fully to his love. Like the wives of the men in the flower shop maybe you are more concerned about the money spent - what it will cost you. How long will you be miserable? Unable to receive love? Too busy for prayer and intimate communion?

Jesus is faithful. He loves you and will continue to call you to the passion flower - to spend times of intimacy with him so that new fruit can be produced.