Have You Heard of the Chinese Bamboo Tree Story?

What does writing, starting a business and waiting on provision have to do with the Chinese bamboo tree? E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Chinese bamboo is quite a hot commodity here in the US. We use the Chinese bamboo tree for beautiful hardwood floors, place mats, cutting boards, you name it. But it’s not their versatility that inspires. It’s the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree. Here’s the story:

 

You would expect great results from a little seed that has been watered and fertilized, watered and fertilized, watered and fertilized for a year. But to the contrary, nothing happens! The second year you water and fertilize, yet still nothing happens. The third year you water and fertilize, and still nothing happens. If you haven’t given up yet, you’re most definitely discouraged!

 The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then—suddenly it seems—the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows to over NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS (that’s in just one growing season)!

 All the hard work and dedication you put into its growth didn’t go unnoticed. While you were watering and worrying, life was taking shape UNDERGROUND! You couldn’t see it, but life was certainly happening. A favorite scripture comes to mind when I think of this: “We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18, GOD’S WORD Translation).

My Own Chinese Bamboo Tree Account

I have begun a new business that is taking time to grow. I’m also continuing to look for writing and speaking opportunities . . . yet another growth process. When I look at myself, I realize even I am a growth process! I’m not who I was last year and not who I’ll be next year.

My Facebook status for today was, “It can’t grow if you won’t sow!” Many of us haven’t sown any seeds because we are afraid they won’t grow. I used to be like this. Instead of planting my seed, I would hold on to it (which is why it took me years to ever write my first book!) Of course the seed can’t grow if you won’t even exercise the small amount of faith to sow it.

So the next time you contemplate whether or not to sow a seed, think of the story of the Chinese bamboo tree. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Rome wasn’t built in a day! Success takes time.  But remember, “It won’t grow if you won’t sow!”

I encourage you to print out this story of the Chinese bamboo tree and post it somewhere you’ll see it often. And when you get discouraged about your growth, take a lesson from the incredible story of the Chinese bamboo tree.