Blessings Bloom When We Connect
Theresa Brink & Kristin Hileman
If you’ve been in the southwest corner of Hillside’s parking area in the past year and a half, you have likely noticed a new project. It started with a simple conversation: a neighbor and Hillside member shared that her family would sometimes walk through the wooded area directly behind the church during the Spring to enjoy the budding trees and flowering bushes. Her family loved that they could explore a quiet and serene atmosphere in the middle of a busy neighborhood.
It seemed a waste to let this beautiful space remain underused, and so we began to put some ideas together. What if we could develop a space where Hillside folks and church neighbors could connect with God, with nature, and with others? A prayer path with prompts throughout would allow people to enjoy a quiet time with God. A trail winding through the wooded area would create opportunities to enjoy the beauty of creation in every season. And a flower garden would give people a chance to cut and gift a bouquet as a connecting point with someone else. If we could pull it all together, we were confident that connections would happen and that blessings would abound.
Most of us don’t have to look too far to see and feel the heaviness and brokenness of this world. In fact, most of us could probably share something that is weighing heavily on us right now. Beneath the surface, each of us carries untold stories. There are fears we never voice, grief we tuck away, and unspoken questions, worries, and insecurities that keep us awake at night. Some are amid challenging health journeys, and some carry heartache from difficult situations or relationships. For some, it’s addictions they feel trapped in, while others feel trapped under the weight of anxiety and depression. The list could go on.
Coming to God with our struggles and hurts is so important. Connecting with Him brings a peace that passes understanding. But we are also prone to feel alone in the messy parts of our lives. Although we often can’t “fix” each other’s pain and circumstances, we can make it a little more bearable when we connect and carry the load together. Jesus’ ministry was all about “seeing” people. He actively sought out individuals within crowds and had a unique ability to bless them personally, offering them deep compassion and love. When we connect with others, we get invited into others’ stories, and we invite them into ours. There is profound beauty in that, and the hope for more of these blessings propelled the prayer path and flower garden project forward.
In the spring of 2024, a small group of volunteers gathered on a cool Saturday morning to help clear a path and spread mulch. It didn’t look like much at first, but as the season progressed, we added permanent posts for prayer prompts, benches throughout the path, and several garden boxes in which a variety of dahlias, zinnias, and other flowers were planted.
Today, the flower garden has grown even larger and includes a box with cutting shears, vases, and cards of encouragement to share with someone. We’ve heard stories of everyone from kids to senior citizens, from long-time Hillside members to seeking neighbors, exploring the path, and cutting flowers. And over the past month and a half, we’ve been able to put out 8-12 bouquets of flowers on Sundays for people to take and share with someone who may need some encouragement. Each week, all the vases have been taken, and it has brought so much joy to hear stories of people blessing others with a small but impactful gift of flowers.
Recently, Pastor Ron preached a sermon from Numbers 6 where God instructs Aaron and his sons how to bless the Israelites. He shared with us that God created us with a need to be blessed, for someone to say, “You are valuable and I am with you.” Flowers can be a powerful way to bless others. The simple act of giving flowers tells another person they matter and are seen. It communicates a simple message - I see you, He sees you, and you’re not alone. Perhaps when we connect with others in this way, we discover a deeper truth - that He’s been there all along. And when we spend time with him and care for one another, we become a reflection of His presence - reminding each other that we are not alone and never have been.
So, we invite you to come and connect in this newly developed space. Come to spend quiet time with God. Come to enjoy the profound beauty of nature. Come to cut some flowers, for yourself or for someone who needs to be blessed today. Because blessings bloom when we connect.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”