Our mind is racing, spinning in the whirlwind of possibilities. We can hardly sleep because our ambitions, dreams, and where they are going, are constantly on the brain. Some of us are waiting, fighting for the big break, or trying to figure out where we belong. Maybe we're counting down until the long awaited wedding day, or we're still out there looking for someone to call our soulmate. Whatever the scenario, we're in high anticipation and patience is hard. The temptation to rush into things, to cut corners, and to accept something half-baked or mediocre grows in our mind. If this is you, take a moment to step back and be still. Let your heart rate slow, and breathe...
We're all waiting for something, I think. Whether it's a career gig, a relationship, an idea becoming reality, a calling, or a new chapter in life, we're eager to see it happen. It's all seems so close and but so far. We can taste it even though it's still just hypothetical. It's like we're standing at the door of a plane, ready to jump, but we still haven't put on the parachute or been advised on safety. If we rush into anything and don't let things come in their own time and season, we reap a half-ripe harvest, jaded and unhappy.
The best things in life take the proper amount of time to let themselves take root and grow...as well as the effort that we put in to help it grow.
A couple of friends of mine are big believers in watching ideas grow organically. Whatever the object, it should be allowed to take root naturally and grow in its own way and at its own pace as we watch it become what it can become. Some ideas start small but evolve into something bigger...sometimes bigger that we could have ever imagined! When we start out, we let the idea take root but shape it with an open mind, wisely allowing input, criticism, and contribution. It can turn into something intricately and ornately beautiful. It just needs time.
Some of you might be familiar with Bonzai, the Japanese art of guiding the growth of a small plant and modeling its appearance after that of a life-sized tree. The amount of dedication, thought, planning, and tending is (to me) overwhelming. How does one create such and intricately beautiful, natural, and living work of art?! Growing a bonzai tree requires wrapping wire around the stem (or "trunk") of the plant, as well as its branches, guiding its pattern of growth, pruning small leaves, and shaping where you want it to go. The result is a beautiful, intricate, miniature tree that you can hold in your hands.
Bonzai is challenging and requires an tremendous amount of patience. It's careful attention to small detail and intentionality in every modification. What if one went into an endeavor with this same exact attitude? With thought, dedication, and patient effort? The things we could create and the things we'd make of ourselves...the results would be life changing! We would have something enriching, whole, and beautiful...in it's own way. Would our standard change? Would we any longer allow rushed work and haphazard choices? We would (and should) try to eliminate such.
There is a time and place for every word, every action, and every happening. When we are able to skillfully gauge the appropriate time to act, or rest, we can watch our ambitions, dreams, and lives grow. It takes discipline, it takes prudence, and it takes courage to take risks. Life is very learn-as-you-go, so seeking out advice from more experienced people can help us plan more effectively.
The most skillful artists, successful businessmen, and good doctors understand that every choice will affect the next, every moment is part of the process, and that haphazardly jumping into anything can lead to disappointment, waste, a good of deal pain, or irrecoverable failure. The things we put in today, the little amounts of valuable time and work invested now, can have great rewards in the future. When it comes to people and impacting, our words and choices can have lifelong effect...even though we may not be around to see it. The best relationships and marriages are hours and years of being poured into, built on trust, experiences, perseverance, and commitment. It's time that develops and tests them.
Don't despair if you feel like something is going slower than it should. For all you know it's taking
the time necessary to reach its fullest potential and best form. Keep looking at all the angles and do the best with what you have now. Remember that everything works together for good and comes in its own season. Take the moments to fine tune the small details. Continue refining and mastering your craft and cultivating your relationships so that everything you do life will be the finest that it can be. These are the creations that people recognize for meticulous quality and dedication. These are relationships that will last a lifetime.
Always push further, always do better than you did yesterday, and watch yourself and the things you put your hands to grow into something wonderful. It's worth it in the end.
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