I was at the National Zoo in Washington, DC this weekend with my nephews, and the best time to take such an outing is in the morning, before the staggering heat of a mid-Atlantic summer day sets in.  In addition to the pandas, elephants, and meercats (aw…) that we saw, one of my favorite sightings was from the plant, not animal world.

It was a lotus pond, brightly robed in pink, white, green, and morning sunshine.  Revered as a symbol of purity in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the lotus is rich with symbolism of tranquility, simplicity, beauty, and–because it rises above the water–safety.

Can you find your inner lotus this morning?

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