Sunday, May 2, 2010

Spring Pear Tree

Each spring I closely watch my little pear tree. I see it grow blossoms, each one a part of the tree's plan for the year ahead. I see how much fruit it is hoping to create and mature over the growing season. Some of the blossoms are pollinated and set fruit. I look closely to see the slight swelling within the fading flower which is pear shaped even from its earliest days. I watch excitedly as the fruit begins to grow until I see tiny pears about an inch long. Then, a strange thing happens. The tree drops some of the baby pears. Does it realize that it took on too much? Wise judgment to know that if it tries to go forward with all of the plans, it will not work. So, it edits.

baby pear The remaining fruits grow to maturity - a harvest for people and birds to enjoy - and seeds contained inside to grow another generation.

I see this process inside of myself. All of the exciting, hopeful ideas that my mind generates. So much potential! Then, the moment I realize that if I pursue all of them, it will come to nothing - there will not be enough to go around. Am I sufficiently in balance to know what needs to be cut from my plan in order to allow for a successful harvest down the road?

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