09 Mar Believing Beyond
It was just a few years ago that scientists discovered the answer to the mystery of why sunflower plants move their blooms to face the sun over the course of a day. Known as heliotropism or “sun turn” in Greek, sunflowers, like humans, have behavioral changes that are tied to an internal clock following a roughly 24-hour cycle.
At night, sunflower blooms face east, patiently awaiting the rising sun. It’s the stems that help position the bloom. At night, one side of the stem elongates to help the bloom face the east to await the dawn. As the sun rises, the other side of the stem lengthens throughout the day to help the bloom shift from east to west. As the sun makes its way through the sky, the bright blooms move with it, always keeping their face to the sunshine.
Sunflowers display this heliotropic movement even on cloudy days, suggesting that this rhythm is followed in the absence of directional light. Even on those darkest days, sunflowers continue to stand tall and find the light. They stay the course, knowing the sun is there, even if it is hidden behind the clouds.
Like the sunflowers at night, hope often begins in that dark place, being brave enough to believe the dawn will come. Ready, hopeful and trusting.
Believing beyond.
Awaiting the rising sun.
Staying the course.
Knowing there’s always light.
Even when we can’t see it.