Last night I wrote a blog about “staying green” through life’s changes, even into old age, being mindful that God wants us to “bear fruit” no matter how old we grow.
In hunting online for an illustrative photo of green leaves, I found a pretty one that struck my fancy and used it in the blog. Although quite a few comments were left, no one caught the fact that the picture I posted happened to be marijuana leaves.
I didn’t realize that, but it turns out the younger generation caught it (my kids) and asked if I was trying to send a secret message through my choice. After all, of the thousands of green-leaf-photos that popped up on Google, that was the one I picked.
Although medical marijuana is legal in Michigan, I can honestly say I’ve never tried it, not for medicinal purposes or any other. As for recognizing its leaves, I haven’t been to a marijuana farm, and didn’t know what the plants looked like. Ignorance ruled.
When I think of my limited knowledge of marijuana plants, I’m aware that there are more things in this world that I don’t know than I do. Among those topics are God the Father, Son, and Spirit. I may know some things about them, but these three Beings are so complicated and have such depth to them that what I do know is barely bare-minimum.
The Bible tells of a remarkable example of ignorance within an unusually godly man who thought he was knowledgeable about the Almighty. It was Job. He didn’t understand why God had allowed his successful life to take a sudden turn for the worse and had some questions for him. Since God had referred to him as “blameless,” maybe Job figured it would be ok to ask.
But the Lord stopped him cold: “Who is questioning my wisdom with such ignorance?”
Job answered, “It is I — and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.” (Job 42:3)
(I can relate.)
God follows that with a heated lecture detailing some of the unfathomable things he can do that Job not only can’t do but can’t even understand. And as we read through that long list, we nod in agreement with God. The Father, Son, and Spirit (and their ways) are, as Job says, “too wonderful” for us to understand. Next to them, we’re ignorant.
Yet despite that, the Trinity has chosen to share some of themselves with us, making a special effort to explain the intense love they feel for us. I may be ignorant, but “love” I understand. I also comprehend that this love makes all the difference in the world, both in this world and the next.
And ignorant or not, I know one thing: bliss is coming.
“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)
Your situation is absolutely one that I relate to so well. My kids are always making fun of my knowledge about things and especially when it comes to technology! We are blessed to have such knowledgeable kids and we have to laugh along the way. I loved the green plant and had no clue it was marijuana. Margaret you are far from ignorant but constantly learning and willing to learn that is what makes life great – we can never learn it all — there is always going to be something else to learn. I had to laugh though because I could so relate…Blessings!
I have never seen or smelled this plant, that I know of. When I have told people this fact, some will say, “How can this be? You were a nurse!” Somehow, I just never got that connection.
Margaret – I work for a prison ministry that supplies chaplains to city and county jails and prisons. Should we try to place one in a facility near you? : )
Yesterday, I read your blog twice. Sometimes it doesn’t sink in until I have had a chance to let the first time through sit in my brain a little. During the second go around, I did notice the funny little plant and said to myself “Did Margaret post a marijuana plant?” I did giggle a little but let it go due to other pressing matters. Today, I’m giggling more. However, ignorance is not bliss and far more serious of a topic. We can’t close our eyes to sin or to God’s awesome works. By doing so we lose opportunities to confess, grow, sit in stillness and communicate with our Lord. Even looking at that marijuana plant, just think about it’s beauty and power.
lol, I thought they were maple leaves. It didn’t really register otherwise, for I’m not familiar with them either.
Res assured. My arborist husband says that it is a Japanese Maple, the leaves of which are often mistaken for marijuana.