Magnolia

I have in my modest front garden a magnolia tree. Its flowers are a welcome contribution, and those walking along the pavement can be observed commenting upon it. Yet what a mess it makes. All those pretty pink petals inevitably fall off and litter the ground. Although less obnoxious than crisp packets and fag ends, they still require collecting and disposing. Peter quotes in 1:1:24-25

“All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

(New King James Version)

Man’s glory- his empires, his crowns, his robes, his awards, his accolades- all fall down, grubby and decaying, fit only for next year’s compost. Remember that when you achieve something great, and the glory goes to self, not to Christ.