The Inner Rose of Sharon

Neville's Inner Vision

I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys is not a distant description but the present state of consciousness I awaken to. The I AM is the garden in which I live, and when I name myself this rose and lily I am simply acknowledging what already is. The rose stands for beauty shaped by love; the lily for purity blooming despite the rough terrain of life. I do not seek grace from outside; I revise my sense of self until it aligns with Imago Dei, the image God bears within me. By assuming this identity and feeling it real, imagination begins to reorganize my world—thoughts, feelings, and circumstances bend toward grace, favor, and greater harmony. As I dwell in this inner bloom, the outer scene reflects the bloom back to me. The Love of God becomes the atmosphere of every moment, and I awaken to a life that matches the divine garden within.