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After today’s prayer, Jesus’ words stayed in my mind: “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). That reminded me of the familiar image of the rose bushes in front of my house, the gorgeous blooming after a few weeks of pruning.
Roses are immensely popular and grown all over the world. They come in a wide variety of colors, and each color conveys a different meaning. The diversity roses refer me to the multicultural community. Entering religious life, I have shared life with sisters from different provinces. Our group of novices has cultural diversity, and different personality, ability…. Living in a multicultural community, there are both opportunities and challenges. I have opportunities to learn from companions, to enrich in other aspects such as awareness, life and spirituality experiences. Furthermore, they help me grow and unify my personality. On the other hand, there is a shortage of frictions and collisions. For me, the most challenges come from myself because of the thorns of selfishness, pride, complacency and competition.
Pondering about the pruned rose trees, their blooming and giving off fragrance talked to me about my pruning life journey. I need to be brave and step out of the box in order to prune the barren withered branches of my old self; so that the new life can be regenerated; thanks to them, I could also become like adorable roses that bring the fragrance of love and holinese to life.
Lord, You are the fragrance of holiness, if I do not stay in Your fragrance, my life will be like rotten roses that cannot offer holy scents. Please let each day of my life always be imbued with the fragrance of Your humility and compassion. Amen.
Novice – Anna Tuyen
