Straight Paths - You Have to Understand the Life of a Thing

You Have to Understand the Life of a Thing

Loren Hardin

For The Ashland Beacon

             Thurman was a soft-spoken, seventy- year-old gentleman who enrolled in outpatient hospice services with end-stage prostate cancer.  Thurman became occupationally disabled from a stroke at age thirty-eight, but he remained active and independent until his cancer forced him to his bed. 

             Thurman loved flowers, especially tulips. His hospital bed was strategically situated in front of their living room picture window so Thurman could look out upon, and enjoy, his large circular flower garden in the center of the front yard.  One day Thurman pointed out a rare flowering vine growing up their front porch post.  He explained, “It was a start from the vine of a friend of mine in Kentucky. Its origin was traced back to Civil War times.” That was the first plant I heard about with a genealogy.  Thurman recounted, “When I first got it, it wouldn’t grow.  Well, it grew but as soon as the flowers blossomed, they turned dark and fell off.  I figured it needed more water, so I watered it every day; but the flowers still fell off. Lillian told me to just throw it away, but I decided to learn all I could about it.  So, I called my friend who I got if from, and he told me that I was doing the opposite of what it needed. I was over watering it.  When I cut back on the water the flowers blossomed, stayed on, and it was beautiful.  I told Lillian, ‘See what you wanted to throw away.’” Thurman declared, “You have to understand the life of a thing.”   

             Thurman elaborated, “Flowers come in several varieties and colors.  Some need direct sunlight while others require shade.  Some thrive in dry conditions while some need lots of water.  Some like heat while others require cool weather.  People, like flowers, don’t thrive under the same conditions either.  So, you have to understand the life of a thing to help it grow.” 

             “A plan in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out” (Proverbs 20:5)

             Loren Hardin was a social worker with SOMC-Hospice for twenty-nine years. He can be reached at 740.357.6091 or at lorenhardin53@gmail.com. You can order Loren's book, "Straight Paths: Insights for living from those who have finished the course", at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.