The Fern and the Bamboo

I love a story I ran across last week preparing for this past Sunday’s message on discipleship. Read on…

One day a man decided to quit. He wanted to quit his job, his relationship, everything. He went into the woods to have one last talk with God. “God,” he said, “can you give me one good reason not to quit?”

His answer surprised him. “Look around,” God said, “do you see the fern and the bamboo?”

“Yes,” the man 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 the bamboo,” God said. “In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit,” God 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 six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the 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.”

God said to the man, “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.”

God went on, “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet they both make the forest beautiful.”

I love that line in the story that says, “Don’t compare your story to someone else’s”.