Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception! Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them until no one is left. Woe to them indeed when I depart from them! Once I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow, but now Ephraim must lead out his children for slaughter. Give them, O Lord—what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. (Hosea 9: 11-13)

God's diversity is great. Lay down in a summer meadow for a few minutes. Look and listen to the fecund variety all about. Rise up better prepared to truly worship.

But loving God's creation includes discovering and - sometimes more difficult - accepting our particular role and place in this diversity.

Ephraim is not Tyre. California is not Virginia. I am not you. Each is unique. We can learn from one another. But we should not seek to be another.

We are to seek God's intention. We are to choose our specific role. God proclaimed "I AM." Created in God's image we are called to the same understanding.

Fundamental to self-discovery is to focus not on ourselves but on God. The scripture - old and new - insists that it is through self-giving that the true self is cultivated.

"Woe to them indeed when I depart from them," might also be read as "Oh yes when they put Me aside." God is the path, our guide, and our destination in the adventure of self-discovery.

With God there is ongoing opportunity. Without God there is accelerating decay. When we turn our focus from God to ourselves we confuse creator and creation, sun for shadow, and lose our way.

The palm symbolized fertility in the midst of adversity. Above a palm tree and bunch of dates is featured on a second century AD coin minted in Jerusalem.