The Lotus Flower
Any yoga fans here? I started taking yoga classes in high school and fell in love with the practice. I have zero hand-eye coordination and I was a little tall, lanky, and sadly not the most athletic but I was decently flexible. While in high school I didn’t excel in sports, I found a yoga class at my gym and since I was about 20 years younger than the rest of the yogis in class, I was able to get into some positions that they struggled with and VOILA! I was hooked. Throughout the years I have been to many different studios and practiced all types of yoga with all kinds of instructors. I have found that some take the ‘spiritual’ component of yoga very seriously and may incorporate chanting, mantras or what I call a ‘yogi opener’ which is a small story that should encourage you throughout your practice. Some instructors are there to give you a more challenging workout (my preference) but sometimes you just don’t know what you’re going to get.
Last week, I took a flow class at my gym and the instructor started with a yogi opener. She described the journey of the lotus flower which I was unfamiliar with. Apparently, these seeds are at the bottom of a muddy, murky pond and they sprout and must come up through the mud to get to the top of the pond where they become a beautiful flower. She then began to say that we too are like the lotus flower. We go through all kinds of struggles and opposition in life and if we can just push through them, we will become our most beautiful selves and experience wholeness and beauty. Ok, maybe you are thinking this is very ‘woo-wooish’ but 10 years ago, I would have been ALL IN to this analogy. Yoga incorporates a lot of this thinking – which is why they hold uncomfortable positions and learn to breathe through them so that a few classes later, maybe that same pose won’t be as challenging. There is some truth to this thought, right? This practice was very helpful to me in labor. Learning to breathe and relax through contractions is a great skill to have during childbirth. And the 10 year ago me would have totally bought into this, “Yes! Going through difficult things gives me purpose, thank you for that encouragement Yogi gal. I got this! Just need to get through this rough patch.” But the me today was secretly laughing in my head. Because this idea is just a half truth and really there isn’t much hope for someone apart from the gospel. Let’s walk this out…
The reason why people fall into this thinking is because it is close to the gospel truth, but sadly misses the mark. Scripture clearly tells us as believers that we will have trouble in this world. After all, we live in a fallen world where sin and evil run rampant. You don’t have to look far to see that the world is not how it should be (Coronavirus anyone?!). As believers, Jesus tells us, “in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus very clearly told his disciples to expect hardships and that like him, they too would suffer. Peter writing to 1st century Christians who were being persecuted encourages them by reminding them of the purpose of their troubles. After reminding them of their future salvation and hope, he then reminds of their reality on earth. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proves genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1: 6-7). Here friends is the truth. Your suffering here on earth does have purpose as a believer. It refines us. It tests and proves our faith. It makes our faith stronger! And for what purpose? So that in the future, when we are reunited with Christ, it will result in praise, glory, and honor! It is not wasted. There are several reasons for our suffering, whether we are being disciplined, tested, or just living in the reality of a fallen world. This world is FULL of disappointment, pain and heartbreak. There is a saying that if you haven’t experienced pain and hardship yet, you just haven’t lived long enough. It is coming, Jesus said it would. But as believers, we can rest assured now that it is refining us and making our faith stronger. It has purpose and is never wasted. And one day, we will be reunited in heaven with our Lord where “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). That is our hope. That is what we can look forward to after the struggles.
As for the lotus flower? Apart from the gospel, there is no hope. For what is the point of suffering here if in the end you do not believe in Jesus and have no promise of eternity with him? Maybe you do grow stronger here on this earth with each hardship, but sadly no lotus will reach its fullness, its most beautiful self or potential on earth. For here on earth, nothing is perfect or as it should be. We can strive and strain but apart from the gospel, there is no hope.
These are the thoughts that filled my head as she was describing the lotus flower. Yes, it’s a beautiful imagery but sadly it is a pretty little lie. Next time you hear something similar, see if you can point out what is missing and how the gospel brings the full truth. Maybe you’ll even have an opportunity to share it with a fellow yogi.