Lifecycle of a Sonflower

To grow well Sunflowers need full sun.

Their direction of growth is determined by
the direction of their light source.

The leaves and flower heads of young sunflowers follow the sun and their orientation therefore changes from East to West during the day.

The movements become a daily cycle and even when plants are rotated 180 degrees, the old response pattern is still followed for a few days, with leaf orientation changing from West to East instead.

The leaf and flower bud follow the light source [Sun] while the leaf petioles and stems are still actively growing and once mature the movements stop.

The movement occurs as the petioles bend or twist during the day and at night they unbend or untwist.

The moment we stepped out of the car at the Pumpkin Patch this weekend and I saw the sunflowers [which started dying last week] I immediately identified with them. 

Sometimes they are beautiful & full of petals and sometimes they are withering & dried up. Sometimes they stretch up high following the light and other times they are bent over waiting for another day.

They follow the Sun and I follow the Son, but when we lose our way, we can only follow our pattern a couple of days.

We both feel the twisting and bending of the nights [of our soul].

But joy cometh in the morning. They & I will rise again from the East to the West as we follow our source of light growing from young to mature.

In the end, we bear seeds. Seeds, that even after the sightliness is gone, bring nourishment to all who hunger. 

There are days of sights & there are days of seeds. 

Enjoy your season. 

Enjoy the Son.