I’ve always seen my flower photos as spiritual in ways that I don’t always understand. Reading about St. Terese, whose idea of small acts of great kindness inspired the Army of Good, I see that the connection between flowers and spirituality is old and deep.

Roses were Therese’s signature. It was her way of whispering to those who needed a sign that she had heard and that her God was responding. Countless people witnessed how Therese responded to their petitions and prayers with grace and roses. Grace, she said, was more important than roses.

“The love for our Sweet Mother Mary is a beautiful white rose that should blossom in the soul of each of us,” she wrote. “The fragrance of its snow-white petals should ever be nourished by the sun of God’s love. Even though at times crimsoned by the thorns of sorrow and sacrifice, it should always strive to preserve its texture’s purity.”

I’ve always shied away from Roses; they are almost a cliche. I’m going to look at them differently from now on. Maybe Sue has some white ones. And I’m not religious, but I greatly admire so many people who are. I’ve learned a lot from religious philosophers about the spiritual direction. They invented it.