Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life.
Bougainvilleas are a shrubby flower often seen from the streets of Khartoum. The spiky thorns make a good defence against thieves and any other unwanted intruders. It’s blooms are beautifully brilliant in their variety of colours: blazing red, white, yellow, orange, mauve, purple and many different shades of pink.
Every branch from the bougainvillea will divide into three more if the bush is pruned at the correct time. It will always seem rather unfair. It may not appear a good way to reward the plant for such enjoyment as it has given. Yet cutting back a flowering branch is the only way for it to produce many more of the best flowers (technically known as “bracts” because they are not actually flowers!).
The flamboyant bougainvillea almost seems out of place in Sudan – a country wracked by painful wars and, especially in the north, with such a harsh climate. But Creator God has enabled the bushes to be here to brighten up many a difficult life.
The plans of God are always the best ones. He does bring good out of evil. We get the best out of life when we work together with him rather than going our own way. God prunes to make beautiful any life given over to his hands.
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Jesus and to cause him to suffer, …… the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Jesus will see the result of the suffering of his soul and be satisfied”,
Isaiah 53:10-11.
August 2007.