Hyacinth? Gloxinia? Turnip? Ginger? Artichoke? Allium?
Depending on your familiarity with growing plants, you may be able to say which (if any) of the above is the correct description.
It could be important to know- or else your flower garden (or your dinner) might be a big surprise. I thought about looking up the Latin names to further confuse the choice, but I’d only confuse myself!
Those moments when you look at a thing (or even a person) and your brain is in overdrive… “It’s A …” or more embarrassing “It’s Er… er…”
I deliberately cropped the photograph right down so the clues are restricted. It looks incomplete, out of context, harder to identify. It’s annoying! You may have played one of those party games where everyday objects are photographed from strange angles or really close up: trying identify them is often a struggle. But when the answer is given, of course, we recognise it straight away. Context! The whole truth, not a selective bit of it.
One of the toughest challenges today is to make sense of things when they are presented out of context, or with partial information, or even intent to deceive. (Political communications are often very unclear, to the point of misrepresentation of the truth. You know, lying. A lot of it around now.)
This is also a challenge when we read Scripture. A verse is nagging away at our mind, dimly remembered, but ever so relevant. How often do we take isolated bits of the Bible and present them as “proof” or justification? Or as condemnation?
John 8 v1-11 is a famous example.
“Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
When you read the story, it’s easy to jump to a conclusion. She is OBVIOUSLY a very naughty girl. Hang on a minute… why didn’t they bring the naughty bloke too? He is just as guilty under the law… It takes two to commit adultery.
Very convenient to find an adulterous woman when you want to catch out a public figure and put them in a difficult position… So very convenient, one might even think it was done on purpose (and she is an expendable victim). An act of partial injustice with the woman accused and the man getting away with sin.
It’s very clever… no, WISE of Jesus to refuse to jump to an answer. It looks as if he’s in a “lose-lose” situation. Either he goes against the Law, or he condones sin and manipulation.
Saying “IF YOU’RE free of all faults, you can chuck the stone” prods their conscience and opens the way for a merciful correction and forgiveness. The Law (and the Gospels, epistles, prophets. etc.,) must be read in the context of God being the Author of a Law in accordance with His holy character. As the “God of Love” the restoration and reconciliation of relationships is divine priority. Think it through- as let’s act in the same way as Jesus does.
Back to the photo: you may know what it is. But a flat photo doesn’t give all the context. We need more understanding. SO- if it looks like a turnip, feels like a turnip, smells like a turnip, tastes like a turnip- it probably isn’t a carrot.
It’s a good principle!
The Reflectionary 