Poppies are by far my favourite flower. I didn't know that until recent years, when I returned to Weyburn and had a garden of my own. I've even admired poppies in other peoples' yards for years without ever realizing what they were! You see, I had thought poppies were small red buttons on green rolling plains, growing from a place of eternal rest - an image I took from a well-cherished poem.
In light of "poppy season", I must say I am impressed with the variety of poppy-style lapel pins available to Australians, which are on display in Weyburn at City Centre Mall until November 12. That being said, I think our Remembrance Day lapel-pin poppies are beautiful because of the noble associations we have with them and because red is my favourite colour. There is great power inherent in these majestic perennial flowers. The 3-D version of poppies is better, just like the 3D version of every movie that comes out these days. The courageous strength of poppies is undeniable, because the world tends to pluck the brightest, most beautiful stand-alone flowers.
I guess you could say I get it now. To me, the implication of poppies is primal. The colour red, in association with our fallen soldiers, reminds us of the Archetypal warrior - and no matter how sophisticated we get, there is no eluding Archetypal symbolism. The primal part of our brain perceives red as significant for safety, security, nourishment and protection. The warriors give us the assurance of a sentry on guard. Just like in any society throughout history, whether tribal or modern, we have what we have in this great land because of those individuals who were courageous enough to go and stand up for peace and freedom.
I don't know about you, my dear readers, but I don't even like to watch war movies, 3D or otherwise. I know I am not cut out to be a soldier. It seems, however, that I still find my own battles. Finding the courage to speak my truth sometimes is difficult! There are times when I feel it has taken all my courage just to parent the way I do, leaning toward doing things 'the way humans always have' rather than ascribing to conventional methods. But no matter how or if we parent, our community is filled with people who have overcome great obstacles. Having a large family is a brave undertaking. Being a law enforcer or fire fighter takes courage I couldn't muster. I deeply admire the capacities of those able to teach entire classrooms full of young children!
I always wonder, 'how do they do it?' and I tend to hear the age-old answer, 'it's a labour of love to serve others.' If we can approach our daily obligations and duties as service, we can appreciate those who choose to take on even greater tasks. We can honour our ancestors and our descendants by being brave and facing whatever life gives us.
Just like a minister chooses her path and then must go where she is called, so does a soldier. Whether or not your political ideals agree with the current war and peace keeping efforts, or if you think death is the risk the soldiers take, keep in mind that each of the individual humans who willingly give their lives - either through deployment or by the ultimate sacrifice - are the centre of the world to their loved ones. They are devoted to the service of mankind and that makes them heroes.
Since I'm applying courage to poppies, it's not such a far stretch to apply heroism to all walks of life, is it? Because that's what I believe about each and every one of us. We can all be heroes to those we see every day. Through strength, courage and wisdom, we can embrace our responsibility to inspire change and ensure peace and freedom for everyone on earth - beginning at home, of course!
It is my hope that from now on, when you see a poppy on someone's coat in November or waving brilliantly in a perennial flower bed in June, you'll recall Tommy Douglas' words, "Courage, my friends. 'Tis not too late to build a better world" and apply it to whatever you're going through. Now THAT's flower power, baby.
