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Bonnie tucked the last of her pink roses into the bars and links surrounding the property and prayed. Sheila and I stood back at a distance. The building seemed so still and silent. As we walked around to the front there was a little welcome area with benches. A single red cockscomb had poked its way out from the pavement, like a scarlet flame standing upright in the middle of the steps. It seemed to me a symbol of hope… that evil does not have the last word. Not now. Not ever.
We eventually drove over to the where the outreach was being held, on a little corner with a long, curved bench and some trees. Sheila’s husband, Abraham, who leads a local Messianic congregation, brought his portable keyboard and stand. I shared the rose cards with Abraham and Sheila and their team, and began to worship.
Aware that a demonstration/protest was happening only a few miles away at the local university, I realized roses might be an appropriate gesture.
It had been suggested the night before by another local Messianic leader, Samuel Lewis, but I hadn’t given much thought to it until that moment. Abraham agreed and rounded up the last bunch of red roses at Giant Eagle, and split them among his team. I decided to check out the florist nearby, and bought the last of her long-stem red beauties. Everyone took a few, and I took a some for myself and Nathan, another local Messianic leader, who I invited to come along for the adventure.
We walked up the street and into some shops, giving out a rose or two each time. I saw a young Asian girl, standing alone, looking down at the pavement for a long moment. I offered her a rose. She was surprised, and I said, “It’s because God loves you. He sees you. You are beautiful to Him.” Her face went wide with wonder—and then a big smile and a softness in her face.
Nathan and I had the joy of seeing several faces light up with surprise and gratitude. But there were others as well, those who couldn’t be bothered, or didn’t believe the roses were really free. One young lady, to whom I gave the last rose, wanted to know which God I was talking about who loved her. She appeared indifferent and seemed reluctant, but received the rose anyway. When I came back later, I saw the rose was in a little water glass and her manner had softened.
Friday we sowed seeds from the Kingdom of God, even as the enemy sowed seeds of hate and discord all over the world. We sang songs of the love and mercy of our King, exalting His Name, even as the enemy was at work to kill, steal, and destroy. The enemy can never put out the Light, because He who is the Light of the World has already triumphed.
But we, who are His people, need to shine forth that Light, and be His hands and feet of love, and all the more so in the face of evil.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
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