Trees are part of our lives.
They’re just there. Winter, spring, summer, autumn, they just keep going on doing their thing. Leaves, fruit, shade, shelter, homes for all kinds of mini beasts birds and creatures. In season and out they just go on going on.
The Bible has a few things to say about trees…
“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; (Psalm 1)
Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed….”It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.(Matthew 13)
I guess really I want to say two things mainly.
Firstly from small things or actions huge impacts can follow, that we can never imagine or foresee. Networks and organisations can be built for good, for positive change, but only if we persevere and don’t lose hope or sight of our vision. Stay the course.
And secondly to keep on, to always be there. To step up, be the first to act, to lead, to show statesmanship, to lead thought, change opinion, to be the bigger person, to put your head above the parapet, to confront, challenge, struggle, wrestle. Only don’t do it just the once. Make it a habit, be there, stay there. Keep on.
Yes it’s risky. Yes it’s vulnerable. Yes it’s hard work work and yes you will probably get no thanks. In fact quite the opposite! And pleasing people? Sometimes….!
However what would you prefer? The quiet life, in the shadows, playing safe?
Please join me in the arena….we have much to do!
“It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst,
if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt, 23 April 1910
Of course this includes women too!
Ciao ciao!
Cheers!
JOHN.
