In that local community, the patient Sufi spiritual leader was always available.

He used to hear the pains of the souls of those who trusted him, between the hours he dedicated to cultivating flowers. There were so many that he even kept a small tent where he offered them for sale.

His name was Ali Sadi Hoca, but they called him simply Hodja. Among many, young Meryen always sought him out.

So much so that she had become dependent on him for almost everything she needed to decide or resolve, whether family or private issues.

However, the wise man, perseveringly, advised her to look a little beyond simply her surroundings.

He wanted her to think and act for herself, standing on her on own two feet.

One day, when the young woman´s issue was a family conflict involving her brother, her sister-in-law and her two nephews, he took her to a room and showed her a vase with artificial flowers.

Take one, he said.

He asked her to admire that red tulip with a long stem.

Perfect, right? There´s even has a shiny raindrop, which looks like just fallen from the clouds.

Take out a petal, he ordered.

She said it was not possible. They were all glued together.

Also, at his command, she found out that, despite its beauty, it had no perfume.

Then, the wise man led her to his garden, picked up a beautiful bunch of chrysanthemums and placed it in Meryen´s other hand, guiding her through the same procedures.

She easily took off one of the petals and spoke of the perfume she could smell.

At that moment, Ali said to her: Man´s work is beautiful, but God´s work is perfect, unparalleled.

Between artificial and natural flowers, the second one surpass the first.

Creatures are like flowers. We are flowers of the Creator Father, arranged in the garden of the planet.

Like flowers, we need land to germinate, grow, flourish.

Our land is the one of the hearts that are close to us: family, friends, and loved ones.

We also need the fertilizer: fertilizer of tenderness, of attention so that we can truly flourish.

We do not dispense with water of good words, the encouragement.

The sun of love, above all, to warm us on cold days, to give us the blessed wave of heat, encouraging us to grow and extend our branches, open our buds.

So, Meryem, go home and take care of your family as if they were flowers in your garden.

Check what each one needs most: land, fertilizer, water or sun. Or, perhaps, a little of each, every day.

*   *   *

Flowers of God in the garden of life. What a beautiful image! And what good advice for ourselves.

Our parents are the flowers already in bloom. Some are almost wanting to wither away. They need our full attention so that they do not die out prematurely.

Protect them from the heat of loneliness.

Our spouse, children, siblings, are the ones who need the fertilizer of affection, the precious water of our kisses, our hugs, the delicate caress of sun waking up in the morning.

Flowers of life. Flowers in the garden of our hearts.

Spiritist Moment Team, based on an episode
 of a Turkish tv show called Oito em Istambul,
 from Netflix.
July 1º.2024