Lessons from the Iris

I've been taking pictures of all the irises lately. It's spring time which means the green fans that line my yard are sprouting up buds that open into these gorgeous flowers.

I always stop to pause when I see one. Not just because of their intricate beauty but because if I don't take a look today, they'll be gone tomorrow.

Irises are one of the first plants I learned to grow. There were a bunch in my backyard for years, but after watching how the flower would turn into a new plant, I decided one day to move a few to the front yard walk way. The first time the roots took I was thrilled. The first time one bloomed the following year I was ecstatic.

I looked down at the flower that was in a place that I'd picked where there had never been a flower before and thought to myself, I made that happen.

The thing about irises is that if you plant them today you still have to wait months or longer to see it bloom. When they do, they only last for a day.

They teach us that sometimes we do work today that doesn't give us much return until some time later (often once we've forgotten we even did the work to begin with).

Also, you've got to pay attention to the blossoms of your past work while you can. Like everything, some are temporary and can pass before you know it.

So don't underestimate what future blessings can come out of what you do today, and when they come, don't be distracted enough to miss their transient beauty.