33 Comments
User's avatar
Tombarriesimmons's avatar

Rarely do I read slowly, and with attention not just to the words, but the meaning behind them, the emotion that forms in the heart x

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Tom, sincerely!

Antony Fawcus's avatar

A mind-achingly beautiful reminder.

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Antony, much appreciated.

Nazish Nasim's avatar

I love this one so much!

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you so very much Nazish!

Martine 🦋's avatar

Wow..... This is painting with words and reading between the lines. Love this. And sunflowers 🌻 💛 just planted one in the garden yesterday as a remembrance. Universe has its ways. Thank you for yet another beautiful write Joe.

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Simona for your kind words, and the time to read. I am very thankful for you.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Our mere existence, is holy. Beautiful Joe. 🩶

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Rea, very much!

MJ Polk's avatar

This makes me think of the importance of being present. Only then could you see such ✨

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you so much MJ! For your time in reading and in commenting!

Tara Deacon's avatar

The wording in this is absolutely swoonworthy!!

"Their petals shimmered faintly with dust and gold. Their stems bore the faint vibration of something still alive"

That's one of many of my favorite excerpts!! This is an exquisite masterpiece!! It's probably one of my favorites by you yet!! It's sooo well done!! You painted a picture with your words!! I truly love this!! ❤️‍🔥💥❤️‍🔥

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you very much Tara, I am a bit in love with this one myself! I am so glad you enjoyed it!

Tara Deacon's avatar

Joe it's an absolute work of Art!! I love it!! Honestly!!

Richard Walter's avatar

I agree Tara. It is heart warming to remember saints are all around us. ✌️

Charlotte Henley Babb's avatar

Deeply moving and inspiring. I am touched and want to plant sunflowers.

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you very much Charlotte, for your time reading and for the wonderful comment.

Richard Walter's avatar

Ours are just coming up now. Started from their own seeds last year.

Virgin Monk Boy's avatar

Yes—this piece reeks of that dangerous holiness Merton warned us about. The kind that doesn’t wait for canonization or martyrdom, but shows up as your neighbor with cracked hands and a stubborn heart.

If we ever truly saw each other—like that painter did—we’d drop to our knees in the produce aisle. Or in traffic. Or in front of someone folding laundry with sacred precision.

That’s the threat: not that God is too far, but that She might be selling figs by the ruins. And smiling.

Virgin Monk Boy

(still bowing to the midwife with no children)

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you very much! Truly appreciate the comment!

Susan Hickman's avatar

So so beautiful ❤️

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you so very much Susan

The Elder Sage's avatar

Absolutely stunning Joe. It’s a work art.

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Meredith, I am thrilled you loved it.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

What a beautiful story, Joe. And I love how it tell us to exalt the present, the living, the now. The sunflowers present such strong imagery throughout!

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you so very much Rajani!

Boo Pfeiffer's avatar

Holiness was never meant to be hypocrisy, either. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful work, Joe.

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Boo, your words mean a lot!

Richard Walter's avatar

The walls remember the saints. The painter brings their reflections to life. ✌️❤️

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you so much Richard. Much appreciated!

Laura Christine's avatar

Beautiful 🌻🙏

Joe Nichols's avatar

Thank you Laura, sincerely for the comment and the time to read.