The Bamboo Tree

This is one of my favorite stories. I heard it on a system cd's a few years ago. And, I related with it so much. To me, it goes back to learning line upon line. Sometimes I think we all feel that we aren't getting where we want to be/becoming the person we want to become etc. fast enough. I know you can all relate. This story helps me keep things in persepective. It helps me know that I AM growing. Even when it appears on the surface that there has been no change!! Enjoy!! (You can find it on page 59 of Day by Day with James Allen; a great book)

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Bamboo Tree

Bamboo Tree grow up to about a 100 feet high in the air. But, the most incredible thing about them is how they grow. You have to water the bamboo tree every day for 5 years and you cannot miss one single day or it will not sprout

When the bamboo tree sprouts, after 1825 days of watering it grows 3 feet every 24 hours and within six weeks it will grow over 90 feet high. You can actually sit and watch it grow.

So, imagine you if you decided to grow a bamboo tree in your backyard. You took your little stock and you dug your three feet and you covered it and you are out there watering it every day. So, suppose one of your neighbors sees you doing this for several days and asks “What are you watering this same spot every day for?” And you tell him, “Well I am going to grow a bamboo tree. So, after five years of watering this every day it is going to sprout and grow ninety feet high. You oughta do it too!” (Do any of you relate??)

Well, they turn to you and say, “Well no, I’ll wait and see if it works for you.”

So, the next year the same neighbor sees that you are watering that same spot of ground and he asks, “Why do you keep watering the same spot and nothing happens?” And you tell the man, “It takes time to grow a bamboo tree but once it comes out of the ground it’s the most awesome sight to see. You oughta grow one too!!” The neighbor just laughed and replied, “No, I’ll just wait and see how yours turns out.”

Well, the third year the neighbor isn’t talking to you anymore and doesn’t want anything to do with you. And the whole neighborhood has heard about this crazy person on the block who keeps watering every day and hoping to grow a bamboo tree. And the fourth year they are sizing you up for a straight jacket and none of the children are allowed to play near your home.

But, in the fifth year the ground breaks open and that stock that you had planted catches its first rays of sunshine and away it goes. Six weeks later the neighbors are admiring the awesome sight that you now have and wishing that they had a bamboo tree. But, they would have to wait five years for theirs to grow. Boy, do they wish they had listened to you five years ago.

Great Quotes and Scriptures

Hello No One,

I say that because I haven't sent this blog address to anyone. So, I am writing to a future reader, I guess. I have never gotten into blogging. I never thought I had enough time for it. But, I did find a good quote and a scripture that I wanted to share with whomever might read this blog!!

First one, it seems that in church lately we have really been talking about learning line upon line and precept upon precept. So, I have been giving that a lot of thought over the last two months. What does that really mean?? It makes me think about Chris and Orrin telling us on the system that you are NEVER holding still. You are either going forward or backward. And, I have always thought to myself that maybe that wasn't really the case. Maybe you could just go into maintenance mode and keep what you have learned and keep your growth. When I read this scripture the truth of their words became truth for me too!! We must keep learning, but more importantly, we must apply the things that we have learned on this "line" or "precept" to receive the next.

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto to my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. 2 Ne. 28:30

This reinforced my desire to keep learning daily through the Team system's many books and cd's. I love them and recommend that anyone looking to improve add them to their the system of learning they already have through church, schooling or any other self-directed education.

Then, on a lighter note, a gal at my new job has a quote at her desk that I thought was awesome.

If you don't like something, change it.
If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

I hope you enjoyed my first official blog!! Thanks to my friend Clancy, who is a blogging genius, for your inspiration!! I am sure my blog will never be as interesting as hers!! But, hopefully you'll find something useful in my occasional posts!!