Among the dried stocks with ears of hardened feed corn climbs a lone Morning Glory vine with a single flower ready to bloom.

The living among the dead. A splash of color against the drabness of the crunchy husks.

The good earth and just enough rain to produce new life while the planted crop ceases to grow further.

The cycle of planting, growing and reaping will repeat itself only if the farmer performs his job of sowing every year. The growth is up to nature’s benevolence.

And, yet, as I gaze upon this Morning Glory inching its way up the stalk, there was no planting by man; this occurs only by nature as God has ordained.

Perhaps this vibrant flower and dying corn reveal the paradox we call life. From cradle to grave life is lived, and the cycle repeats.

When we thrive during the time allotted to each of us, bringing color into other’s lives, we  all benefit abundantly.

“Please excuse the quality of this image as it was taken with my cell phone in bright daylight”