For me this year has been the year of the rose. I have been balcony gardening for many years now but I always steered clear of roses because I thought they were difficult. I'd killed a few windowsill mini roses in my student days and so assumed I was a rose-killer, but for my birthday I tried again with a Brass Band, a Burgundy Iceberg, and the classic Peace rose. My SO joined in the fun by giving me a Sally Holmes as a birthday gift. And I was hooked, head over heels in love with roses. Now I have seven full-size roses and a whole lot of minis on my balcony, and more planned/wishlisted, and they bring me so much joy. I was just out for a walk this evening and thinking about my garden, an was moved to thank God for a world that had roses in it. And then I got to thinking. I've wondered sometimes, if God made everything, why us? Why are humans special? My sister loves animals. She is a dog lover, but her great love is greyhounds. I love to grow plants; fruits and veggies and...