CUT FLOWER GENERATION

Elton Trueblood (1900-1994), a Quaker theologian, wrote in his 1969 book: “A Place to Stand,”

“A quarter of a century ago a few of us began to say that faith in the possibility of a cut-flower civilization is a faith which is bound to fail. What we meant was that it is impossible to sustain certain elements of human dignity, once these have been severed from their cultural roots. The sorrowful fact is that, while the cut flowers seem to go on living and may even exhibit some brightness for a while, they cannot do so permanently, for they will eventually wither and be discarded. This metaphor of a “cut-flower civilization” severed from its cultural roots and left seeking a moral center remains a powerful image of contemporary American society.”

I would say American society is severed from many of its cultural, spiritual and moral roots… I am afraid we are seeing a lot of wilted bouquets. Cut flowers may be appropriate in giving bouquets to others but when our philosophy and theology is rootless…it and we shall become withered.

“Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.” Jesus