The 4th of July – like much of “normal” life – promises to be pretty much a dud in 2020. COVID has claimed many of the fireworks spectaculars we’ve tended to take for granted in years past.
But that doesn’t mean we have to settle for a “boom-free” celebration of Independence Day – at least not in my backyard.
Just this week, I noticed, our hydrangeas have exploded with color (to the delight of the local butterfly population). And their blooms kinda remind me of bright firework displays – flamboyant pastel bombs, bursting in air.
Cue the Sousa anthems…the hydrangeas are in bloom!
A few other nearby plants have come into flower, too – not as extravagantly as the hydrangeas perhaps…but offering a nice complement to their showy neighbors.
The effect, on the whole, has been to bless my spirit – helping me to think less about what I’ve lost during this year’s celebration.
There’s still plenty of beauty…quiet colorful beauty…to be found all around us on this 4th of July.
Indeed, our boomin’ blooms call to mind the words of Psalm 46:
Come and behold the works of the Lord,
the awesome deeds God has done on the earth.
And then after “beholding,” the voice of the Lord reminds us…the next step is to “be still – and know that I am God.”
Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.
IHS
With Us Still 
Hydrangeas are my favorite! All things right in front of us; boom. Finding new ways. 🇺🇸
I like your “booms” MUCH better! They are safe, boom at reasonable hours, last longer, price is right, environmentally friendly…everything is better with these booms! I may never look at hydrangeas the same way, Thanks John.
You make a great point, Mary. While I may miss the spectacle of a traditional fireworks 🎇 display, I likely won’t miss my bedtime this 4th. And that, too, is something to be grateful for!