Common Gaillardia

Common Gaillardia, sometimes called Indian Blanket, is an American import, the 'Indian' referring to the continent’s natives rather than far-away inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. Here, an arrival from North America has further enhanced and beautified our flower beds. Some imported flowers, like the Himalayan Balsam, prove to be an invasive menace to native plants, but Gaillardia seems to exercise better self-control.

Importing and exporting are what make nations rich. Financial gain and fair exchange create an incentive for different countries to coexist peacefully, relocating excess natural resources to other parts of the world where they are better needed, in exchange for other items in shorter supply back home. I cannot think what we gave in exchange for so pretty a flower, but there will doubtless be flowers in America and Canada once only native to Europe.

In Mark 8:37, Jesus asks

Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

In the previous verse, He asks

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Two rhetorical question here. They certainly remind us that this life is but a rental, not a freehold. What you have now, you lose. What Christ has now, we may keep. The Christian gives what little he has in exchange for what greatness Christ offers. 

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:25