Patience on the Path

The bamboo plant is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth.

Bamboo is found in tropic regions and some species take only about 60 days to reach full height. 

The Chinese Bamboo Plant has a different story. 

The seed is planted to be watered, fertilized, and nurtured to its adult stage. 

For the first year, the seed can be cared for and nothing appears above the soil surface. 

During the second year, it is watered, fertilized, and nurtured - nothing happens. 

During the third year, it is watered, fertilized, and nurtured - nothing happens. Is there still a seed under the soil??

The fourth year it is watered, fertilized, and nurtured - but still, nothing happens. 

The fifth year it is watered, fertilized, and nurtured.

Then sometime during the fifth year, the seed sprouts and grows 90 feet in 6 weeks!!

After years and years of putting love, water, and nutrients into the soil with the seed it finally breaks the surface.

When it does it it rapidly grows in a short amount of time. 

If you were the one watering the seed, would you be patient or give up on year 2 or 3?

This species of tree takes years to develop a very strong foundation before shooting straight up.

Much like our own lives, we may not experience immediate results from our efforts but need to trust our preparation and hard work will eventually pay off. 

The seed needs love (fertile soil, water, sunshine) every day, even when signs of growth are not visible.

Persistence and faith is required to keep going and nurture the plant when there is no visible signs of life.

In the moments when you feel like giving up, these may be the final moments that contribute to reaching your full potential and achieving your dreams.  

Much like the Chinese Bamboo Plant, the final year of nurturing may bring questions if the hard work and diligence is contributing to anything, until the bamboo shoots high in the sky in a short amount of time.

Patience, persistence, and faith in the mission is what makes the hard work worth it. 

What is your mission? What are you trying to achieve?

No matter the path, one must hold patience in their heart and persistence in their actions to continue making progress.

We are not going to achieve anything overnight. It takes years and years of dedication and persistence to reach goals. 

Others may just see your bamboo shoot straight up, but only you know all of the hours, energy, time, and money invested in a steady work flow to get to that point. 

Just as the Chinese Bamboo Plant has a different story - so do you.

Each of us has a unique story and perspective to share. We have one life and how we choose to journey through that life matters.

Stay patient, stay persistent, stay faithful in the face of adversity AND in the face of NOTHING happening.