Plant Patience
Tonight I was at a networking event where they encouraged us to reflect on "the awesome things of this year", "things we want to leave behind", and "things we're looking forward to for next year". After nearly an hour of half working on the assignment, half talking, we regrouped and shared our reflections. Sentiments were similar: excited about the start of a new business, raises, or overcoming some challenge, leaving behind negativity and procrastination, looking forward to achieving life goals and breaking records.
One particular reflection that stood out was an analogy one of the ladies shared about the growth of Chinese bamboo when discussing her wish for 2017. For five long years the bamboo plant remains underground establishing its roots and collecting the nutrients vital for its growth. Finally-- after five years of diligently caring for a plant that challenges the grower to truly exercise faith ("Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1)-- the plant emerges from the ground-- strong and thriving-- spending the remainder of its life growing at extraordinary speeds. "This," she told us after describing the plants life cycle, "is my fifth year nurturing these seeds in my life."
This made my spirit hum in excitement as this process echoed what I've been meditating on for the past few weeks... patience. Difficulties in my health and relationship at the end of November made me realize that I'd been living in fear and self-doubt for most of the year, if not most of my life. This realization wasn't new. We all know about fear. Many books are written about it, songs proclaiming victory over it, poems detailing its effects...the list goes on. And the same applies to self-doubt. What I realized when I hit rock bottom this time was that the difference in me climbing out of this rut permanently was not in learning how to overcome fear once, then hopping out of the pit, and going on my merry way… nor did I need an artificial sense of self renewal. Instead, I fell upon patience.
Prior to the end of November my typical reaction when I faced a difficult time or felt down was to rebound as quickly as possible. That method was neither effective nor growth-promoting. Instead, I stumbled time and time again into the same situation or emotion. I insisted on moving on so fast that I didn't realize I was going around in circles. This time, at the end of November, I was so tired of being in the same situation time and time again that I just stayed there for a while... giving myself time to process. What happened next was not "stunted growth" or "laziness", instead, I felt truly refreshed. I noticed changes, however slight, in my outlook this time around. In fact, instead of starting out again on my typical circular course, I began to move forward slowly, intentionally... giving myself time to grow.
My dear friends, we're all going to stumble and encounter difficulties. Surprisingly, difficulties are quite abundant during the holidays... maybe even more so than other times of the year with the pressure to be "merry" and fulfill everyone's need for everything. We go from one major holiday full of cooking, travel, and decorations to another a mere month later. Quite frankly, it can be extremely exhausting. In this season of hustle and bustle, I encourage you to plant patience. No, you may not see the fruits of your labor for days, months, or even years, but (OH!) when you begin to grow you'll be perfect and complete; wanting nothing (James 1:4)... I mean it! "I won't even wish for snow!" (<--Mandatory Mariah Carey reference).
Have the patience to truly grow, my bamBOOs [if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="😚" style='width:36pt;height:36pt;visibility:visible; mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MBDEF~1.PED\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title="😚"></v:imagedata> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif]
Patiently yours,
Omega
***Spoiler Alert: Picture of Garden with Cabbage and Lettuce Omega and Her friend tended to this year*** <---it took patience ;)