Thorns on the rose bush

   Most people know the origin of the name of this blog - Sunshine and Shadows. 
   This is the quote that the Englewood High School annual staff chose for me in the 1965 Golden Fleece,
                "She meets her trials with a smile and the shadows turn to light".
   I have often said that those words were prophetic.  Lots of shadows - needed lots of smiles.
   But no more me than anyone else - really.
   I was thinking about 2014 and all the wonderful things that happened to me - all the opportunities I had to smile.
   There was my work - from planning the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida to writing for Beson 4 publications to working on a Caregiver Expo for Community Hospice. I had lots of challenging and exciting experiences. 
   There was my service to Christ - especially as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, assisting in the administration of Holy Communion and visiting those who cannot come to a worship service, sharing communion and God's peace and love.
   There was my family - being the notary who married my niece Lacie to the love of her life, Keith Belton, spending great time with my children and grandchildren and watching them grow in their spiritual lives as well as physically.
   There were friends - a cruise with my friend Deborah Hansen,  lots of coffee and lunch dates with a whole passal of other friends.
   Everything was just rosie!
   But the year was not without thorns.
   Our family suffered a devastating loss when my great niece, Blakelie was suddenly snatched from us.  I'll never forget my sister, Cindy's text - "She is with Jesus".
   My friend, Doreen Egeln, one of the persons I had ministered to as a Pastoral Visitor, lost her valiant battle with colon cancer;  my friend, John Gates is undergoing treatment for Leukemia, my aunt Gloria fell and broke her hip and on December 18 I had an automobile accident.
   Thankfully no one was hurt - both cars were totaled, however and my self confidence has been dealt a huge blow.
   The memory of those experiences begged a question - why do roses have thorns?
   What did we do before the magic of GOOGLE?  The thorns on the rose bush are a defense mechanism (according to Nature Center Magazine).  Without the thorns, the roses wouldn't last very long. 
   And now it's 2015.  There will be roses - opportunities to work and play, serve and learn. There will be beauty, joy, happiness. Life will be sweet.  There will also be thorns - a piercing pain that is far greater than the prick of a thorn will bring with it the paralysis of emotions.
    I can only pray that I will know those thorns have a purpose!  And that I will know - there is sunshine - even when there are shadows.