The Grace to Thrive in a Ruthless World
by Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
Here’s a truth that may surprise you: the passion flower, with its intricate beauty, isn’t just a marvel of nature it’s a survivor. Its delicate petals and vibrant colors might make it look fragile, but underneath that elegance lies a fighter. This flower has developed ingenious ways to protect itself from harm. It uses deception, mimicry, and even chemical warfare to guard against predators that threaten its survival. It doesn’t become less beautiful in its effort to endure it thrives in its brilliance despite the odds.
Doesn’t that sound like us?
Life, for all its wonder and beauty, isn’t always kind. We walk through a world that tests us with pain, heartbreak, frustration, and anxiety. The system we’re in seems designed to break us one long grind of obligations, expectations, and pressures that weigh heavy on the spirit. And yet, just like the passion flower, we are not powerless.
The passion flower teaches us something profound about resilience. Its defenses aren’t loud or aggressive. Instead, they’re subtle, clever, and rooted in the flower’s nature. It doesn’t stop being what it is a symbol of beauty and grace just because it faces threats. It survives by being itself.
And that’s what we’re called to do, too. The world will try to make you believe that you have to harden yourself to survive, that you have to fight tooth and nail just to get by. But the truth is, your greatest strength lies in your authenticity in staying true to the person the Creator made you to be.
I’m not a conflict starter. I don’t like dramatic people or situations, and I’ll go out of my way to avoid chaos. Most people see this and assume they’ve figured me out. They think I’m soft, weak, timid, not masculine enough someone who can’t handle life’s pressures. I’ve heard the whispers and seen the smirks, but boy, are they wrong.
I’m a passion flower.
Like the passion flower, I don’t wear my strength on my sleeve, and I don’t need to. My power isn’t about loudness or dominance it’s about resilience, grace, and unwavering faith. People might see quietness as weakness, but they don’t see the battles I fight in silence, the storms I’ve weathered, or the predators I’ve faced without losing who I am.
The passion flower’s defenses aren’t flashy or obvious, and neither are mine. My strength comes from the Creator, from a well of grace and love that’s deeper than anything this world can understand. And just like the passion flower, I don’t need to change who I am to survive I thrive by staying rooted in my truth.
Think about it: the passion flower’s egg mimicry tricks butterflies into leaving it alone, while its sticky hairs and chemical defenses guard its tender leaves. These defenses allow it to flourish without losing its elegance. In the same way, we are equipped with defenses not physical ones, but spiritual and emotional tools that help us navigate life’s challenges.
One of those tools is grace. Grace allows us to stand firm when life tries to shake us. It reminds us that even when we feel small, fragile, and unsure, we are held by a love far greater than anything this world can throw at us.
But here’s the catch: just as the passion flower doesn’t sit idle waiting to be devoured, we, too, must be active participants in our survival. We can’t allow the predators of this life fear, doubt, despair to consume us. Instead, we must lean into the divine strength within us, trusting that it’s enough to see us through.
It’s not always easy. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re losing the battle. There have been times in my life when anxiety and frustration pressed so hard on my chest that I could hardly breathe. Times when depression tried to convince me that there was no point in going on. But in those moments, I’ve learned to pause and remember who I am and whose I am.
You see, just like the passion flower doesn’t lose its beauty while defending itself, we don’t have to lose our softness, our kindness, or our humanity when life gets hard. We don’t have to become bitter or cynical to protect ourselves. Our defenses faith, trust, grace are rooted in love, not fear.
And that’s the secret: love. Love for the Creator, who holds us even when we feel like we’re falling apart. Love for ourselves, even when we don’t feel worthy of it. And love for others, even when they don’t deserve it.
The predators of life pain, anger, frustration can’t touch a soul that is anchored in love. They might circle around you, whispering lies about your worth or your future, but they can’t win.
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