Reflections 7/30/2020: Our “beanstalk’s” biggest bloom burst today. Got so heavy-laden with seeds that I nodded toward earth and released its load. I wanted to capture the sunflower’s bent face, packed with the potential for new generations, but a squirrel beat me to it and climbed the “beanstalk” before I had a chance. Feasted on those baseball favorites, sunflower seeds! And aided in the planting of next year’s crop! Circle of life. I always want to freeze the frame on the young, flashy yellow bloom… and somehow see the heavy-with-seed bent over (past its prime) stage as sad. But it’s not! It’s what the youthful bloom was working hard to achieve. Productivity! Seeds for the next generation! Self-sacrifice for the larger goal of new life for others! God, help me to remember that, and even celebrate it as my body gets more and more bent over with age and the flashy yellow bloom turns unattractively brown, heavy-laden with something valuable for the next generation. And may they receive it as valuable!