For the Beauty of the Earth

About 70 women and girls gathered on April 28 in central Kansas to attend the annual potluck salad supper hosted by the Western District Women in Mission (WDWM). This year’s theme was “For the Beauty of the Earth.” Tammy Duvanel Unruh, WDWM executive committee member, explored God’s attitude toward nature and beauty and encouraged the group to take joy in our surroundings and each other.

The remainder of the time was spent creating small floral bouquets. Each participant brought a small vessel from their home and flowers from their gardens to share if they wished. Most of the flowers were provided by local flower grower, Firebranch Farm. Rebecca Schrag, floral designer and executive committee member of WDWM, led the group through the basic principles of Ikebana. Ikebana, known simply as “the way of flowers,” is a practice studied by the Japanese and historically used in altars and sacred dwellings.  The origins of Ikebana are thought to date to the sixth century, when Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China and Korea, and floral offerings to Buddha were placed on temple altars using urns and other vases. Centuries later, these arrangements were introduced as stylings into the home, intended to be a seasonally changing, decorative feature designed in a minimal upright form.

Ikebana bouquets start with three flowers or twigs shaped in a scalene triangle and standing in a kenzan, often known as a floral frog.  In some schools of thought, the three flowers or twigs are considered to symbolize heaven, earth and woman and in others sun, moon, and earth. Rebecca encouraged the group to approach their floral designs with a sense of play. Their designs are nature presenting itself with all its beauty and imperfections.  As Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, says, “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms.”

Enjoy some photos of our gathering and the floral designs the women created. Look for God’s beauty around you and approach it with a sense of joy, wonder, and play!

Wendy Schrag

Chair, Western District Women in Mission

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