Smiles bloom when flowers appear
My wife's congregation--like many, I suppose--makes a Monday-morning habit of distributing the flowers used in worship on Sunday to members and friends who are hospitalized or stuck at home for various reasons.This is basic pastoral care, an act that connects members to one another and helps establish "well-worn paths" between Christians (to use Susan Dunlap's evocative phrase).
But now there's evidence that the flowers themselves contribute to mental health by inducing positive emotions, as evidenced by smiles and other responses to receiving a bloom or bouquet.
While I'm not certain I can accept the study's conclusion that flowers evolved specifically to contribute to human well-being, I do think the study provides important, empirical evidence of the effectiveness of what can be construed as a pastoral act.
And I suspect that a similar study of responses to flowers presented by a representative of a congregation would demonstrate not only an increase in positive emotions such as happiness but also in hope and a sense of spiritual well-being.
.: Posted by Duane Bidwell on Monday, May 09, 2005
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