Late Bloom

Two terracotta pots of geraniums have been out front this summer. Even with all the heat and lack of rain, they’ve had several brilliant red bursts of color these last months. I figured they were finished, since I’d pinched off the dead heads, but I found a few more buds promising a small late season encore. Unexpected blooms are the best of all.

I have a dear friend whose life of simple devotion to Jesus is such a sweet fragrance to the Father. She tells me that she daily prays for me and my family. I think she’s the very definition of mercy and humility, though she’d never say it of herself. She resides quietly in a retirement community now, having never married.

Visiting recently, I found a smiling face welcoming me. After warm pleasantries, our conversation wandered to Maryann’s joy-filled childhood days of ballet. She was quite a talent, even as a child. Her poised, graceful movements flowed so freely with the classical music masters.

“The music seemed to speak to me, somehow.” She described a serendipitous moment when riding the city bus with her mother after her final dance class in a town she was leaving. A woman sitting across the aisle was a ballet enthusiast herself, and gave them the phone number of a woman, and encouraged them to give her a call. It turns out this woman, Shirley Elmore, was an accomplished ballet instructor in town, eventually helping to form the Cincinnati Ballet. Even more surprising, Ms. Shirley gave 8-year-old Maryann an interview and, seeing the raw talent, gave her individual lessons for a time.

That relationship opened the opportunity of being selected to dance in the newly-formed Cincinnati Ballet. She caught several eyes and looks from other companies in New York, but age and family circumstances kept her from taking future steps. While she loved ballet, it was the music and moving gracefully to it that she had really enjoyed so much, a talent God gave her. She found other wonderful expressions of dance in church from time to time, but those beautiful joy-filled young days faded. But not in her heart. 

“I sometimes wonder what might have happened had I taken a different path,” she said. “But Jesus found me, and here I am, looking for what God has for me in this stage of life.”

The life of prayer blooms wherever it's  planted

Being aware of Maryann’s background, the retirement center’s activities director invited her to attend a performance of a local dance troupe called “Princesses Ballet.” This local program serves girls aged 8-18 from low-income families, who use the disciplines of ballet to build character and find success in life.

That evening returned so many wonderful memories, watching these girls give their best, keeping steps, and moving across the stage. The crowd appreciated it, too, giving a standing ovation at the finale. As a surprise, Maryann was invited to address the girls, as one who had danced in the Cincinnati Ballet. Both Maryann and the girls were thrilled and they peppered her with questions.

Months later, another invitation was extended to Maryann, this time to speak about “How ballet changed her life,” at another performance of the Princesses Ballet. “I will if I can alter the topic just a bit.” She knew ballet hadn’t changed her life, but Jesus had. She asked if she might give each girl a heartfelt hug and offer a short prayer of blessing over each one, if they were willing.

And so, it was set. The activity director of the retirement community drove Maryann to the performance, where she was again so moved by the sweet determination by each of the girls. In truth, none of these girls had the making of a prima donna, but the joy in their expressions revealed the heart.

Afterwards, Maryann was called on stage, where it was explained that she wanted to give each girl something special. Dutifully the girls lined up at the direction of the company director, and Maryann leaned over with delicate arms, giving long, slow hugs to each. One by one they came and received, but the line didn’t decrease. There was a divine transaction going on in the hug and in the simple prayer. Once one was finished, the girls quickly got back in line for another hug and prayer. A little 5-year-old had returned, now receiving her third hug, and she began to cry, saying, “I miss my mom so much.” Well, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, as Maryann blessed her and assured her of a mother’s love and a heavenly Father’s love, as well.

Maryann lives a quiet life these days, and that’s the way she likes it, but sometimes she wonders how might God use her now? She answers, “Well I didn’t see this coming! Blessing those girls in such a unique way would never have happened had I not relocated here.” And there’s the truth: In season or out, the life of prayer blooms wherever it’s planted.

The prayerful life poured out to God is like fresh-budding flowers late in the season. It always crescendos with a beautiful “Amen!”