As an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, it delights me to read a passage where the author was so effective at painting a picture with their chosen words that a visual image appears in my mind leaving an indelible illustration. One of the downsides to a talented writer painting these pictures in my own mind comes when the story is transferred to television or movies and the actors are a mismatch to the illustrations which I created for the characters in the original book.  As a result of the incongruence, I often prefer the written story over the visual one. Words, both written and spoken, play an important role in our lives whether it is an encouraging note shared from a friend or a challenging message from a pastor to even to a hurtful untruth which may have been spoken about us.

Pondering the unique gift some people have to articulate ideas well, I wonder how authors come to settle on specific words to communicate their thoughts best. It also raises my curiosity if there are certain words that when read or spoken evoke an involuntary movement of the facial muscles such as a smile? Is there a word that comes to mind that you absolutely cannot frown when saying it? Please feel free to share your word in the comments section below.

One of the words repeatedly appearing in my reading lately is flourishing. Although it is just a word made up of specific letters, it conjures in my mind LIFE. I cannot speak the word without feeling a need to emphasize syllables so that it creates an impression of growth and health. If I peek out my window on a summer day when the weather has produced the perfect mixture of rain and sun, I will notice my lawn is flourishing (with a little help from the chemicals used to eliminate the weeds). Flourishing grass exhibits life with established roots in the soil and small creatures abiding within the blades. It is a lawn that has been cultivated and cared for with regular trimmings, water, and light.

As a college professor, it is my desire for my students, colleagues, and friends to experience a flourishing life the same as I currently see with my lawn. Although there will be select days when the sun is too harsh or the rain is lacking; overall, the lawn adjusts and adapts in order to flourish because it has been cared for and its roots are deep. I believe God designed each of us to have a flourishing life, thus the name chosen for this blog. It is my desire to hopefully provide some insight into what it means to have a flourishing life as we navigate the relationships and circumstances where God places us. As we continue to delve into this topic of flourishing, I realize that I am not sharing anything you probably don’t already know, but I feel it is important to give voice to thoughts others have had but maybe did not connect in the way we will here.

I invite you into this journey whether you are a young college student looking ahead at the life God has chosen for you or if you are nearing the final chapters of your story. We all have an opportunity to flourish in our current circumstances and establish relationships with others where we can cultivate not only our own growth but fertilize the growth of others around us.

Are you ready to flourish?