A seed from a pine tree found itself eaten by a squirrel, or maybe a blue jay. The seed believed that this was a terrible way have its future ruined. Now, the seed, so full of potential, was stuck in the stomach of an animal or a bird. Soon, however, the seed was dispersed by the creature that ate the seed, and she found herself deposited in a crack in a huge rock.
“Great.” The seed thought. “Now I am really stuck. I would like to have been dropped on that beautiful valley floor below me. There I would have had room to plant myself, become established, and grow. Here I am stuck in this rock!”
The seed had nowhere else to go. She was stuck where she was. She had no choice except to dig in a little deeper into the broken place around where she had found herself deposited in the rock.
Soon, she broke through her shell that surrounded her. From there, once her own shell was broken, she sprouted new growth.
Next, she put down some roots, and she grew upwards towards the sun.
She now realized that she had not been stuck in this place, a hard and rocky place, that looked like a place where nothing could ever grow. She discovered she could grow where she was planted. In time, she grew into a beautiful pine tree.
Passersby were amazed at her resilience. “How did that tree grow out of a rock?” they would ask as they walked by.
love that story, it adds so much meaning to the parable...
ReplyDeleteA very good reminder, Sally!
ReplyDeleteSometimes we do get stuck between a rock and a hard place. I guess we just look for the crack.
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly. It is what it is, so better to make the best of it.
ReplyDeleteLovely, Sally. Good lessons in that story.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this Sally. Will share on SM
ReplyDeleteLovely analogy (also loved your "dispersed" euphemism!) and I completely agree that we need to seize every oportunity and grow where we're planted.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with MLSTL and I've shared on my SM :)
Really enjoyed this Sally, a lovely and different view and so true! Sharing for #mlstl
ReplyDeleteHello Sally, I just found your blog through MLSTL. It's a beautifully written post, and compliments well a photographic post of mine from last year about trees growing in places exactly like the crack in your rock. Thank you for the interesting and thought provoking post. Cheryl
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful, Sally. It reminded me, too, of a poem I had written last fall:
ReplyDeleteSEED
Single seed, Dropped by careless bird in flight, Sails on passing winds — Its luck to meet fertile ground.
Trembling sprout, Aroused by a fickle rain of spring, Cradled by the earth — Such wonder in its rising.
Tiny leaves, Drawn by warm nurture of sunlight, Tender drops of green With a surging quest for life.
Waiting flower, Protected in tightly wound bud, Unfolding blossom — The beauty in fresh blooming
Ripened fruit, Sweet scented and heavy weighted On soft bent branches Where careless birds can gather.
This is so beautiful Sally and I felt like I was the seed being taken on a journey. Such a great analogy about making the best of what we have. The seed, although it thought it was stuck actually found the resiliance to grow into a tree. Love it and thank you for sharing at #MLSTL with us. Have a great week. xx
ReplyDeleteLoved this story and a reminder that wherever you are pllanted by God you always have the choice to strive and blossoom
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to look at things. Resilience is all about focusing on the things we do control and releasing everything else to the Universe or God. Also, your photos are beautiful. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful and such a powerful reminder that we can always reframe the circumstances we find ourselves in. Most of all, we can always grow where we're planted!
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