The Parable of a Man and His Other Plants

There was a man who attended to his plant.? It was not growing the way he wanted, at the rate he wanted.

There were seasons that seemed especially harsh, and his plant almost died.? It survived.? But the man worked hard to keep it so.? There were seasons when it flourished.? But it was never enough.?

One day, while walking to his garden, he realized that he was surrounded by dozens of other plants… each one thriving, bearing fruit and flower.? They had been there all along.? In fact, the man had been the one who planted the seeds, watered and tended to them.? They had not been the primary object of his focus.? But how they had flourished.

The first plant is work.? And I am that man in the parable.? I seed my ideas, tend to the soil, water it — all with high expectations of a reward.

The other plants are the ‘other’ things in life — just as important, and perhaps even more important.? They receive attention and care, like water and sunlight.? But without the high expectations of ‘10x Growth’, or exponential returns.? These plants are — a healthy body, a sound mind, a healthy marriage, relationships with children, a thriving family, deep friendships, enjoyable leisure activities, and more.

It’s easy — but foolish — to think of Life as a single plant; or even just a handful.?

Make time daily, to look at the whole garden.

Many of us have thriving gardens without actually realizing it. ?

Today, I made time to walk around my figurative ‘garden’… acknowledging the many plants I have.? In my quest to ‘get 1% better every day’ — I sometimes forget that growth doesn’t ALWAYS require direct effort on my part. ?

Sometimes… and perhaps more times than I’d like to believe… Growth comes from seeds that have been planted before; from the rain and sun that occur as a result of it’s location determined long ago; from habitual actions and from conditions not within my control.

Life is pretty good… in the garden.