At 54 years of age, I still bring wildflowers home to my Mom.

It's a strange admission, something not normally shared in print.  Most men my age are busy building the world or building their career, or as is increasingly common, enjoying retirement. 

Is has been observed that religious life and the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience can stunt a person's growth in maturity.  I have seen it happen.  Adult men and women not sure of their lives, their initiative and sense of responsibility smothered by a false notion of obedience, men and women cold and aloof, bothered by a twisted celibacy or chastity, men and women oblivious to the material dimensions of life. 

As I made my way across the bog with the prized bog orchid in hand, such thoughts of "acting one's age" were farthest from my mind.   I was simply intent on delighting my Mom with the beauty of the Dragon Mouth, one of the most beautiful orchids in the North American flora. 

To botanists, the Dragon Mouth (or swamp pink) goes by the Latin binomial Arethusa bulbosa L.  Named after the beautiful Greek nymph Arethusa, the orchid adorns the wet, acidic Sphagnum bogs of Newfoundland in late June-early July. 

It's considered rare throughout it range in eastern North America, but in Newfoundland it's a rather common blessing.  In fact, the bog that I crossed seemed chock full of the pink beauty with its floral configuration akin to a flaming dragon's mouth. 

Keeping it secure in its spongy Sphagnum home, I selected one for Mom's table at the cabin where I was heading. 

Mom tells me that, as  young boy, I always brought her wildflowers after a day of fishing or simply meandering in the woods.  It seems to have been a common trait among all my siblings.  A genetic blessing. 

We delighted in the delight of our mother when she saw us return from our wanderings, our hands stuffed with dangling bouquets of yellow buttercups and dandelions, blue violets, red wild roses – and purple thistles or knotweed when pickings were slim. 

I know that I'm not immune to the dangers of the vows of religion.  They can be quite dangerous to the uninitiated.  However, they can also gift a person with life.  They can help a person to focus on what's really important – the Now, the Naked Now as Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, is fond of saying. 

While crossing that bog last week, the Naked Now spoke of the delight that Arethusa bulbosa would bring to my Mom. 

Delight always elicits delight.  Gift rendered is gift received.  Maybe that's why, at 54 years of age, I still pick wildflowers for my mother.  At 54,  I still need to know the pleasure of delight – delight given and delight received.