The Lotus and Christmas- a sacrament

                                  

Lotus is not something that grows in Oklahoma, or Maine, or Utah, nor I think California, as far as I can recall. But it does well here. It's a water-plant, nelumbo nucifera, a rhizome, that likes its feet in the mud, but pokes its leaves above the water, and in due time produces a tight flower bud a little more rounded than a large Hershey Kiss, but with a sharp apex. when it matures, it explodes into a marvelous pink blossom, that stands erect on the end of a long single stem above the water. After a further length of time, the petals disappear to be replaced by a green seed pod with about 30-50 operculae which house the lotus seeds.

                                 

I'm not an expert on it's cultivation by any means, but by virtue of the fact that one can see fields of them growing in various places, in areas that might otherwise be devoted to rice or other crops, I think it is safe to assume it has economic value.

                                 

The leaves one finds being used in rather famous dishes asa a wrap for rice in various combinations to add romance and flavor. The flowers of course can be harvested for bouquets, particularly popular as an ancestral offering or reverence and dignity.

       

The roots can be used as a vegetable similar to parsnip or jicama to add texture and substance, but they are most notable for their distinct architecture of fenestrations when cut appropriately.

Nutritionally the root has some pretty good advantages to sustain life and promote health. You can read about it elsewhere if you'd like, but suffice for me to say, it can be a staple. And the seeds! These are also widely used in many ways, as a condiment before dinner, or in a variety of desserts or treats. A most notable one places a single seed inside a lychee and serves them in a sweet syrup chilled, the perfect flavor for a summer day, or a Christmas treat. 

I don't expect that you'll be dashing out to find the recipes for lotus root stew, com la sen (lotus leave rice) or che hat sen (lotus seed sweet soup), as the ingredients may not be widely available away from south and east Asia, but the symbolism of a plant that so marvelously both sustains life, entices and treats the eye with its floral beauty, adds flavor and spice to others, and can complete and satisfy with sweetness seems to me to epitomize my view of the role of the Savior Jesus Christ and his message. He sustains my life, adds flavor and meaning to all I can do, enriches my appreciation for all that is virtuous and lovely, and brings sweet satisfaction at the conclusion of each repast. So here is my Christmas offering to you, the Lotus Carol, with our love and our affirmation of his birth, life and sacrifice to sustain us all.