ONE night a doctor friend dropped in, he appeared sad and beaten. A patient who had been operated upon in his hospital had gone into a coma for no fault of his or his staff and now he was hounded by the media, police and even members of local community, to which the lady belonged. To top it all, his father who had been living with him, suddenly had a heart attack and passed away a week ago.
“Bob,” he said, “how much can a man take? I feel like quitting, my life, my practice, everything!” Both my wife and I felt sad that night for a man who seemed to be on the receiving end of such fate. And then this morning I came across a wonderful piece, which set my mind right and which I decided to send to my friend:
‘One day I decided to quit…I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” His answer surprised me. “Look around,” He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes,” I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.” “ In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on bamboo.”
“In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I will not quit.” He said. “Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant…But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall!”
“ It had spent five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.” He said to me, “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?”“I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don’t compare yourself to others.” He said. “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come,” God said to me. “You will rise high!” “How high should I rise?” I asked.
“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return. “As high as it can,” I said “Yes,” said God, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can..!” And that my dear friend is what your struggle is all about; roots digging deeper and deeper into soil, past rock and hard ground, past other stubborn roots, till when deep, firm and strong you grow taller than the other trees around.’ Don’t ever, ever give up, ‘cause you’ll soon stand tall like the bamboo..!
