I have been on holiday in the North Island. On the slopes of Mt Ruapehu I came across the native Mistletoe and its story. The Mistletoe has some deep read flowers on it. But the flowers do not bloom by themselves. They develop wrapped up in green coverings. For the flowers to bloom it requires the intervention of either a Bellbird or a Tui. The Bellbirds and the Tuis are the only birds interested in the nectar in the flowers. As they search for the nectar they unwrap the green covering, and release the flowers to open up and bloom and in turn become pollinated. If no Tui or Bellbird comes along the flowers remain locked in their covering. Eventually they fall to the ground without blooming and without being productive. No Bellbirds, no Tui... no deep red flowers!
I got to thinking that we are meant to be the Bellbird or the Tui for the people around us. We are to help each other bloom and become productive! There are people who depend on us to open them up and help facilitate their "blooming". If we don't do it then they may never bloom. I have been doing a lot of "people watching" during my holidays. I think there are a lot of people unfortunately, who never have enough people to help them bloom. There are many in our communities who return to the ground without blooming and therefore unable to be productive. In marriages, families, through friendships, churches and groups we are to be the "tui's" and the "Bellbirds" who help each other bloom.
Jesus did it for people. He was involved with such people as impulsive Simon Peter, Matthew the Tax Collector, Zaccheaus the other hated tax collector, Mary Magdalene, Thomas the doubter and many more. These people were enabled to bloom after their encounters with Jesus. There are some of us whose vocation and involvement with people have a special calling to do this for people. If we don't do it, they could live their lives without blooming! What a privilege! What a responsibility!
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