The Red Rose – A Spiritual Story About True Love
John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose.
His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell.
With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like.
When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting – 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. “You'll recognize me,” she wrote, “by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel.” So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.
I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:
“A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips.” “Going my way, sailor?” she murmured. “Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away.
I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own.
And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment.”
“I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?”
The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. “I don't know what this is about, son,” she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go ahead and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”
The author of this spiritual story is unknown and greatly appreciated.
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What Is the Spiritual Meaning of “The Red Rose” Love Story?
Their story transcends the mere exchange of letters and chance encounters, illustrating the spiritual imperative to discern truth beyond superficial appearances. It's a narrative that unveils the sanctity of authentic connection—a connection not confined by physical attributes but woven from the threads of empathy, understanding, and genuine kinship.
John's pivotal moment in Grand Central Station reflects the universal quest to discern the profound amidst the perceived allure of outward beauty. His choice symbolizes a deeper truth—a truth that extols the virtue of genuine companionship over fleeting infatuation. It's a call to recognize the timeless value of relationships rooted in understanding and authenticity, transcending the ephemeral definitions of love.
The woman in the green suit becomes more than a character in a story; she represents the cosmic orchestrator, guiding John toward a revelation—an unveiling of the spiritual essence underlying their intertwined destinies. Through her guidance, the rose, a symbol of their meeting, embodies not just a physical presence but the spiritual blossoming of an enduring connection—a connection nurtured by the sacred bond between souls.
At its core, this tale invites us to navigate our lives guided by the deeper truths that underpin our existence. It beckons us to perceive beyond the surface, to discern the luminous beauty of the soul, and to honor the sanctity of genuine connections—a spiritual wealth far more profound than the fleeting allure of romantic love.
In Lieutenant Blanchard's choice to honor the essence of their bond, we find a testament to the enduring value of relationships rooted in authenticity and understanding—the very fabric that weaves the tapestry of our spiritual evolution.