Moso Bamboo is grown in Southeast Asia. It is some of the biggest, strongest, and fastest growing plants in the world. You wouldn’t know as it’s first planted. Moso bamboo will stay dormant for roughly 5 years before it actually grows. The day it starts to grow you can visibly see the growth throughout the day because it grows 2 1/2 feet a day. Within six weeks it’s 90 feet high, how does it grow so fast? Well, during those 5 years it grow miles of roots and has an underground network so strong the rapid growth doesn’t phase the seemingly indestructible foundation deep within. The bamboo farmers must develop patience to conquer the cultivation of such a tedious plant. They also must have a confidence that the plant is developing a strong foundation underneath to provide the results desired. This can apply to so much; parents with their growing children, aspiring entrepreneurs, recovering addicts, faithful disciples, or a newly-wed couple and the list goes on. I am going to write about an analogy that I developed.
We are both the farmers and the moso bamboo. The bamboo is our divine potential, our spirits, our heart and souls. We are the farmers because we need to be patient with ourselves while we have a confidence that we are going to grow into something miraculous. As we grow our network of roots we are going to get frustrated because there are many obstacles, that’s where the farmer’s patience will carry us through the “dormant years” where we feel as if our progress is nothing. The farmer’s patience will invite a hope that will allow us to look forward with an eye of faith to the day where we grow (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, temporally) and really shine. The farmer’s patience will provide a confidence that will help our roots to grow to withstand the rapid growth and powerful winds that will be conspiring against us.
As the bamboo, we will grow our roots. This takes effort on our part. God will grow us and also take part in being the farmer. He endures our dormant years with us patiently. He waits anxiously and faithfully till we grow! We need to form a fortress of roots to keep us up. in other words a foundation. Here are some scriptures that will help with this concept;
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” -Matthew 7:24-25
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” -Heleman 5:12
The foundation should be rooted in Jesus Christ to provide sufficient strength for us to grow! I believe God wants us to reach our fullest potential and then some. We are able to grow our roots in Christ by faith, it takes believing in Him. Once we believe we will be able to do the things necessary to power our dormant years. Just look up to the heavens and grow with Christ, the results will be so magnificent you will see God’s smile upon you as you grow!