Pulchritudinous
“Lantana is a high maintenance weed that will take over in the summer and die back in the winter. I hate it.” Yep. That’s what I said, and it is how I felt for most of my adult life. I have removed established lantana bushes from many yards.
 Until…
Until is a powerful word. It marks a break, a transformation, a change. Whether it be a philosophical idea or an interpersonal relationship, it sparks hope. My rebirth from lantana hater to lover came when I stopped to take a picture of the flowers. Some lantana flowers are purple, others are pink, white, yellow, orange, red, truly a cornucopia of colors. As I focused closely upon their blooms, I saw their pulchritude.
Pulchritudinous doesn’t sound like it means “beautiful, ” and that’s precisely why I used it—to be ironic, facetious, and just silly. It seems to be the perfect word for my transformation. When I stopped looking for reasons to get rid of lantanas, I unknowingly opened ways to appreciate them. Taking a closer look, I saw the splendor of colors blending to create a rainbow of variety – each bloom slightly different than the others unique in and of itself.
People, creation, are a lot like that.  When we stop judging them, we unknowingly open up ways to love them. When we take a closer look, change the focus of our preconceived agendas of their limitations, they become pulchritudinous.
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Justice Is Not for Just Us at The Palms
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A little girl asked her mother, "How did the human race appear?"
The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so all humanity was made."
Two days later the girl asked her father the same question..
The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."
The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"
The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his.
The Story of Creation as told by Dog:
On the first day of creation, God created the dog.
On the second day, God created man to serve the dog.
On the third day, God created all the animals of the earth (especially the horse) to serve as potential food for the dog.
On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could labor for the good of the dog.
On the fifth day, God created the tennis ball so that the dog might or might not retrieve it.
On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the dog healthy, and the man broke.
On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but God had to walk the dog.
source
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A Palm Reader's Look into the Future
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This Sunday we're celebrating Creation Sunday. Shea Darian will be preaching. We'll be dedicating our solar panels.
A full worship service is available on Mondays on our website.
Sunday, April 24 is our creation justice Sunday. Shea Darian will be preaching.
My sabbatical dates are May 16 through August 15, 2022.
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Let's practice pronouncing 'pulchritudinous' !
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