"Daddy, what's an Obscurity Tree?" Asked the Heart Farmers Daughter. The Heart Farmer smiled with his eyes and his heart as he looked earthward to see his little girl. He paused for a moment as if he was realizing for the first time how fast his daughter was growing up. The big hearted farmer was experiencing a beautiful mind reflection, an intimate knowing that his daughter was hungering for the deeper meanings of life. The Farmer with the huge heart puffed up his chest as if his heart had just grown even larger and said: "Have a seat right here in this Adirondack Chair my little Beauty and I'll tell you the story of the Obscurity Tree."
"Once upon a minute, there was an obscure seed tucked away into the darkness of a lonely womb. Some folks would call this place the womb of mother earth. The seed had been planted there by father time and would be birthed in obscurity. The womb was a place of struggle and time was needed for the seed to grow. The very beginning of the seed was very obscure and unseen to most folks. The womb hid the growth of the seed from the naked eye.
Time rewarded the seed at different stages of it's growth. Soon the seed would experience the emergence from the womb as it celebrated its first birthday. The emergence was accompanied by a new name. The seed was now called a sprout. During the emergence, the seed would spring forth from the womb as a new birth. The sprout was still very obscure and unable to live without support. The tree was in its life stage of infancy and with a little coaxing and care it would grow deeper roots and stronger limbs.
Time passed, the sun shined, the rain poured, seasons changed and the sprout grew. From infancy, the young obscure sprout would grow into its pre-tree stage. The young sprout who was now a pre-tree began to call attention to itself and even sometimes make demands on the other trees of the forest. 'I want more sunlight! Gimme some more room!' Storms of life change would bring pain, adversity and misunderstanding. A few of the older trees would blow an air of arrogance from their lofty boughs of wisdom. The pre-tree was still very vulnerable and easily influenced. As a young pre-tree, the damage done at this stage could have devastating effects resulting in the carnage of many trees in the future. If the pre-tree could be kept healthy and uninjured it would continue to grow.
Eventually, the pre-tree would become a treenager. This was potentially the most exciting time of a tree's life! New buds, new boughs, new roots, new seasons - the opportunity to escape obscurity seemed to abound with every breeze in the forest! The temptations around them caused a selfishness which made them want to shed their obscurity the way they shed their leaves every fall. Many of the trees were infatuated with recognition and prominence as they strove to escape the seemingly barrenness of obscurity. The strivings created winds of change and the gentle breeze of unity in the forest turned into a tsunami of selfish individuality.
The trees with deeper roots maintained their obscurity and formed solid, meaningful and lasting relationships. They grew together as a team. They knew the secret to life was becoming one in unconditional love. They knew they were loved because someone first loved them. To be obscure was to blend in with the efforts of the others. They desired to do what was best for the whole forest. The young obscurity trees began to understand deeply the wisdom of the elder trees;
The Heart Farmer finished his story and smiled at his daughter and asked:
"Do you understand obscurity my darling Beauty?" The preteen girl looked up at her dad and said:
"I think so Daddy. Being obscure is like washing feet, sometimes you wash and sometimes you sit."
The Heart Farmer laughed so loud he scared the hawks out of the trees. He scooped his daughter up into his diesel arms and hugged her to his heart as he smiled and said: "I love you Beauty to the stars and back!"
What's the moral to this story?
You decide!
Wisdom is gained through knowledge.
Selfish children become selfish adults.
Wounded children become wounding adults.
It takes time for all of us to grow.
Patience is a womb, love is unconditional.
Go do something nice for somebody.
Be patient with growing children.
 |
| Obscured in a tree, can you see outstretched arms and a head hanging low? |
"Once upon a minute, there was an obscure seed tucked away into the darkness of a lonely womb. Some folks would call this place the womb of mother earth. The seed had been planted there by father time and would be birthed in obscurity. The womb was a place of struggle and time was needed for the seed to grow. The very beginning of the seed was very obscure and unseen to most folks. The womb hid the growth of the seed from the naked eye.
Time rewarded the seed at different stages of it's growth. Soon the seed would experience the emergence from the womb as it celebrated its first birthday. The emergence was accompanied by a new name. The seed was now called a sprout. During the emergence, the seed would spring forth from the womb as a new birth. The sprout was still very obscure and unable to live without support. The tree was in its life stage of infancy and with a little coaxing and care it would grow deeper roots and stronger limbs.
 |
| Our actions create bridges for children to cross. |
Time passed, the sun shined, the rain poured, seasons changed and the sprout grew. From infancy, the young obscure sprout would grow into its pre-tree stage. The young sprout who was now a pre-tree began to call attention to itself and even sometimes make demands on the other trees of the forest. 'I want more sunlight! Gimme some more room!' Storms of life change would bring pain, adversity and misunderstanding. A few of the older trees would blow an air of arrogance from their lofty boughs of wisdom. The pre-tree was still very vulnerable and easily influenced. As a young pre-tree, the damage done at this stage could have devastating effects resulting in the carnage of many trees in the future. If the pre-tree could be kept healthy and uninjured it would continue to grow.
Eventually, the pre-tree would become a treenager. This was potentially the most exciting time of a tree's life! New buds, new boughs, new roots, new seasons - the opportunity to escape obscurity seemed to abound with every breeze in the forest! The temptations around them caused a selfishness which made them want to shed their obscurity the way they shed their leaves every fall. Many of the trees were infatuated with recognition and prominence as they strove to escape the seemingly barrenness of obscurity. The strivings created winds of change and the gentle breeze of unity in the forest turned into a tsunami of selfish individuality.
The trees with deeper roots maintained their obscurity and formed solid, meaningful and lasting relationships. They grew together as a team. They knew the secret to life was becoming one in unconditional love. They knew they were loved because someone first loved them. To be obscure was to blend in with the efforts of the others. They desired to do what was best for the whole forest. The young obscurity trees began to understand deeply the wisdom of the elder trees;
There is a season to stand tall above the other trees,
There is a season to stay in the shade.
There is a season to stretch toward the heavens,
There is a season to support others as they stretch.
There is a season to be strong,
There is a season to lean on other trees.
There is a season to be concealed,
There is a season to be revealed.
There is a season to be distinguished,
There is a season to be obscure."
 |
| A season of rest precedes a season of growth. |
The Heart Farmer finished his story and smiled at his daughter and asked:
"Do you understand obscurity my darling Beauty?" The preteen girl looked up at her dad and said:
"I think so Daddy. Being obscure is like washing feet, sometimes you wash and sometimes you sit."
The Heart Farmer laughed so loud he scared the hawks out of the trees. He scooped his daughter up into his diesel arms and hugged her to his heart as he smiled and said: "I love you Beauty to the stars and back!"
What's the moral to this story?
You decide!
Wisdom is gained through knowledge.
Selfish children become selfish adults.
Wounded children become wounding adults.
It takes time for all of us to grow.
Patience is a womb, love is unconditional.
Go do something nice for somebody.
Be patient with growing children.
 |
| Be patient as a cactus flowers. Be patient with children. |
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