This sunflower was bent during one of the groundhog’s romps. Many around it perished; mauled or devoured by my garden guest. When I began the cleanup, I opted not to cut this one away...I still felt a strength in the stem and so I rested it as comfortably as I could among the foliage and allowed nature to take its course. I had faith it would thrive...that the sun, storms, and winds would feed and challenge it, that night would work its enigmatic magic; healing. My morning meditation was considering this sunflower...obscure as it is with bends that mimic piping...it wasn’t afraid, nor ashamed to be weak. Time allowed a healing, that in turn, allowed it a new opportunity for growth..once again reaching towards the sun. I suppose I grow in a way much like this sunflower, which is why I’m partial to it...I’ve allowed weakness, I’ve allowed it to strengthen me, but I’ve never given it permission to break me.