Monday, June 14, 1999
Monday, June 14, 1999
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the
turtledove is heard in our land.
In the early days of the Berlin Wall when emotions were still very much on edge and hostility was
running high, truckloads of garbage were dumped over the wall from the eastern sector onto the
western side. Everyone in West Berlin was outraged at such a terrible deed. The topic of
conversation on every street corner, in every home, was how best to get revenge.
Then the word went out from Mayor Willie Brandt that every flower, every petal, every bit of
green that could be gathered was to be brought to an appointed spot at the wall. Then all that
beauty and fragrance was thrown over the wall to the eastern sector. And above the wall a great
banner was hoisted. As the banner was unfurled, these words were revealed: Each gives what he
has. The East German government had thrown garbage; the West German people threw back
flowers.
What will be our choice, as we give to God and our neighbor?
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA
(Song of Songs 2:12
NRSV)
We all know that the Berlin Wall fell many years ago. The Berlin Wall was a wall that stood in
East Berlin over the ocean in Eastern Europe. It was built by a cruel government to keep its
citizens from fleeing to a better life in the free world.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me flowers. Help me to also give flowers.
Amen.
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