What About the Flowers?

A group of us were gathered at a friend's house when we were unexpectedly presented with an opportunity to build with Legos. As it was the final evening of the Feast of Tabernacles, we decided it would be fun and appropriate to build a model of the New Jerusalem. The previous year we'd attempted a sandcastle rendition, but due to time constraints and the challenges of building with sand, had accomplished more of a cut-through style. But with Legos? Easy! Right?

The wall could not have been more than an inch high before a young girl, who had been building with a pile of purple Legos off to the side, saw what we were doing and came over to join. Someone had the idea to add grass to the sides of the river we'd built, and she happily joined. All was going well, until she disappeared for a moment and came back with the purple tower she'd built. She tried to press it down onto the baseboard, but it wasn't sticking. Internally, I heaved a sigh of relief. The tower didn't fit with the Revelation 21 picture we were trying to paint here. I suggested that since it wasn't sticking to the board, perhaps it could stand outside the city and act as a watchtower, but the little girl wasn't satisfied. After a couple more attempts on her part, one of my friends helped her secure the wobbly construction just inside the city wall. I said nothing, but continued to build.

We were beginning to run low on bricks and had long abandoned all hope of color coordination. As I was about to suggest we use some of the green bricks to help build the wall instead of using them all for grass, the little girl came up with another idea. "What about the flowers?" She began collecting green bricks for stems and brightly colored ones to place on top - bright blooms in every available hue. Why did it bother me so much that she was using so many of the bricks we would need for the wall?

A smile on the outside, I sat building, but internally I was frustrated. As I sat with my displeasure for a few minutes, it suddenly struck me. What about the flowers? When had I lost sight of what the Kingdom is all about?

Yes, there will be city walls. Yes, there will be a river that runs through the city. And the tree of life with leaves that heal the nations. But there will be beauty, peace, and creativity as well! In a perfect world, we won't need the walls for protection; they are instead of work of beauty! They are made with jasper and decorated with precious stones. The gates are each made of a single pearl. And I do not doubt that there will be flowers, lots of flowers. So who am I to say there won't be a purple tower as well?