Story of the Bamboo Tree

What started as a random sharing from my friend provided me with more food for thought. He was sharing with us how his bamboo tree, which once bore fruit had started shedding its leaves ever since he moved to his new home. Intrigued that a bamboo tree could even bear fruit, we started asking him more about his tree's welfare.

Apparently, a tree is able to bear fruit only when it is well nourished. And when there wasn't enough nutrients, the fruit would be the first to disappear and the tree would start shedding its leaves until it reached a bare minimum such that it would be operating on "survival mode".

As I pondered further about this, it was an apt reminder that the "fruit" we should be bearing in our lives can only be possible if we are spiritually well nourished first. Drawing from basic tree growing principles:

1. Checking the condition of the soil ie. the state of our hearts

Just like a tree needs watering and good soil to thrive, we need to ensure that we remain continually refreshed and recharged if we hope to be able to bear quality fruit.

2. Allowing ourselves to be pruned

John 15:1-2

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

Sometimes, there is a need to be pruned so that we can be even more fruitful. I guess it made me realise that the trials, challenges and tempations that we need to go through are all part of the molding process.

3. Monitoring our Environment

Interesting, when I asked him what was so different in terms of the living conditions now versus his old home that enabled his bamboo tree to bear fruit, he remarked that his new place could be too windy. Just like the environment affected the tree's growth, we are very much affected by our environment and the ways of this world.

Although it's hard to NOT be affected by what the world tells me and NOT see myself through the world's standards, this is yet another reminder of how I am still a WIP human being with very real flaws. *sighs*

I won't become a perfect being overnight but at least I can try my best to get my attitude and heart right.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Putting things into Perspective

Had several same-themed conversations recently about finding fulfillment. Guess the one question most people seek to answer is "what are the things that would keep/make one happy?"

Is it all about getting THE dream job or garnering that coveted promotion, finding meaning in work/life or simply being surrounded by loved ones. Sometimes, the pursuit of happiness and contentment can seem so elusive.

As I continued to ponder about this whole innate desire for more and why there doesn't seem to be a "fulfillment" finishing line, came across Ecclesiastes 5 which put things back into context:

Riches are Meaningless

10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?

18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Finally, there was my answer: To be continually thankful, count my blessings, enjoy all that I had been given and be occupied with gladness of heart.

Running after the Joneses

I have always been struggling with this desire for more and I have been known to 'overdo' things either by eating too much, buying too much, catching ALL the sights in ONE holiday..you get the idea. This time, my temptation was in the form of a really nice IT bag.

Conveniently forgetting that I had bought a new bag barely 4 months ago, suddenly all my bags didn't seem as nice as THIS bag. It didn't matter that I didn't need another bag. It didn't matter that I had ten other bags abandoned at home with each new one I got. I just knew I WANTED this bag NOW.

Realised I was reaching dangerous territory when I started entertaining thoughts of asking my mom to buy this bag for me in place of the wedding dowry. As my friend exclaimed when I shared with her my treacherous thoughts: "Har? You mean you are going to carry that bag on your arm when you walk down the aisle?"
Ee pauses to envisage the IT bag on one arm and Ed on the other. *nods eagerly*

My one consolation is that at least I'm not alone in this need for more...was reading this article in Forbes which put a wry smile on my face. Excerpt as follows:

The neighbors threw a party Saturday night. Nothing about the party wasn't fun. They had archery in back for the kids. A raffle to benefit leukemia research. Chips and salsa, fancy cookies and Mexican spiced coffee. The host even tapped me to sneak out and smoke a cigar under the starlight.

Yet I came home troubled, burdened, worried about something that I had difficulty even expressing to my wife. Their furniture, it was so ... so ... nice. The sofa, with its thick embroidered upholstery, shot through with gold thread, that looks as if it came from a medieval French tapestry. The writing desk. The little cabinet. So nice, and so much of it: chairs and love seats and sofas and ottomans and God knows what else. Our furniture, which had been so new when we bought it, suddenly looked threadbare and tattered and completely unacceptable. "We need new furniture," I informed my wife, gravely.

Call it envy. Call it competitiveness. Call it a desire to meet community standards. But the need to keep up with the Joneses both spurs our personal working lives and drives our national economy, and most of us don't realize it. The need to keep up is woven so deeply into our culture it can be hard to recognize.

Hmmm...makes mental note to set aside that covetous heart.