Preserving Peonies

and pondering perfection

Each year when the tight round balls on my peony bush begin to open, I am captivated by the unfolding of their beauty. I attend to each small change and am enraptured by their intoxicating scent, their frilly layers, and their silky petals.

Each year when a spring thunderstorm blows through shredding the velvety petals and dropping them on the ground, I am disheartened by the demise of their beauty.

When the storm is passed and the sun again shines, hope returns as my eyes locate the tight round balls that have not been destroyed by the storm.

Again, I am captivated by the unfolding of their beauty. Clusters of pink expand over the bushy greenery, wafts of perfume dance toward me, and their intricate design enthralls me.

But soon the weight of these magnificent flowers tugs them to the earth. Slowly they droop their heads to the ground and tarnish their beauty with dirt. Ants climb and crawl on them. One by one, the blooms will succumb to the shrivel and discoloration of time.

Desperate to prolong their beauty¹, I grab a scissors and go outside. I cut deep into the plant, extracting long stems from its bowels. I cluster the stems in my hand until I can hold no more. In the shelter of my home, I select a large vase and plunge the cuttings into cool water. I adjust and arrange the stems until all I see is beauty. I go about my other work, but I gaze at them often. For I know—that like all good things—their beauty is fleeting.

As my day progresses, I encounter Colorado potato beetles on my potato plants. My big, beautiful strawberries have beak-sized wedges carved out of them. The garden is carpeted by thistles. I'm impatient with my children. I hear a sad report from a friend. The news is filled with wars and violence. I begin to believe that everything is broken and that there is nothing good. Everything that could be perfect is somehow marred by disease, death, or decay.

All my life I've heard about the Garden of Eden. God, the Creator, delighted in sharing this garden with His beloved friends, Adam and Eve. Everything was good until they defied His holiness and betrayed His trust. I'm not going to pretend I understand what all happened in that moment and how things came to be the way they are now. But nothing has been perfect since then.

The world I know is full of fear and fighting, separation and sorrow, death and decay.

But the God I know still delights in giving us the most beautiful things a human can experience: the birth of a baby, the warmth of love, the ability to learn, the strength to overcome, and so much more.

The gifts of a fresh spring morning, the lush, green grass, a sweet, juicy strawberry, and frilly, pink peonies makes dream of the day where all will be made perfect.

Even when the world looks dark, there is reason to hope. Sometimes we just need to find the courage to go outside and have a look.

1. Here’s a tip I learned from a friend to extend the beauty of peonies. Cut peonies while they are still in a tight ball, wrap in newspaper, and store in the fridge. When the blooms outside have fallen to the ground, pull out the ones in the fridge and enjoy!