In the surrounding peace of the monastry garden, with the sunshine warm upon their backs, Brother Thomas stood quietly listening to his young visitor as the latter began to open his heart. "You, Thomas, above all, know the deep respect I hold for all the Brothers here - for the way in which you live, for what you do in God's service, for what you are - and you know that I too want to give my life to God, but ..." The voice faltered, giving way to a despairing sigh. "I just cannot divine God's will for me. Thomas, I need to know! How can I search this out?"

Brother Thomas gently smiled and leant forward to pick a yellow bud from the bush before him. "Open this but don't tear any of the petals", he instructed as he offered it to his companion. The young man, surprised, wondered for a moment if his friend had actually been listening. Nevertheless he took the bud and tried to do as he was asked. A minute later, with a handful of ruined petals, he looked up into the wise face watching him and cried out in exasperation, "This is impossible!"

"For us, yes, but not for God", came the calm response. "He does it all the time, but only when each time is right - be assured that God will unfold each one of us if only we will allow Him - and that in His hands the outcome will be beyond our imaginings."