Louise's Utopia: The Somber Sunflower

We have been enjoying the mild Summer here at Coteau Valley Farm. The corn in the field is getting to that point where you know the time has come to harvest. As the scenery disappears and the corn fills the space with large leaves and stalks, it lends a certain beauty to the prairie. My family and I recently had the pleasure of driving past a large field of sunflowers on a sunny day. We all immediately noticed something peculiar about the field of sunflowers. All the sunflowers but one single flower alone, bowed their heads downward and their petals seemingly sagged to the ground. Only one flower lifted its stamen and petals toward the sunlight. It seemed sad and although I do not know the reason for this sight it reminded me of when I was young. For a few years of my early childhood, my parents lived in Gettysburg, SD. We lived out in the country in an old white house that was surrounded by cornfields. I used to run and play with my brother for hours in those fields, the long rows of corn were a giant playground for us. Back then we used to sing an old song we learned in catechism together. As I looked at the yellow, sagging sight the song played in my heart. I could hear the choir of childhood voices singing, “like a sunflower, that follows every movement of the sun, so I turn toward you, to follow you, my God.” I began to wonder if that is how we all have turned, like the sunflower, away from the sun with our petals downward, not facing the light. I was taught that the sunflower was an image of us and our beauty on the earth and how we reflect the goodness of our sun, who is God. The sun of course represented God whom we ought to follow and reflect his goodness and light. I wondered, why can’t the field of sunflowers lift up their heads to the light anymore? I hope I do not look like the sunflowers in the field. I prefer to keep my head up and reflect the beauty I know God has shown me in my life. I know one thing, the sun gives the sunflowers in the fields the beautiful glow of yellow that we all stop to admire when given the chance. So we all ought to follow the sun, in simplicity and charity.

Coteau des Prairies

South Dakota Hobby Farm