the grove
Some time ago, I was a neighbor of a doctor, whose “hobby” was planting trees in the huge patio of his house. Sometimes I would observe, from my window, his effort to plant trees and more trees, every day.
What most caught my attention, however, was the fact that he never watered the sprouts he planted. I started to notice, after some time, that his trees were taking a long time to grow.
One day, I then decided to approach the doctor and ask him if he was not worried that the plants did not grow, since he perceived that he never watered them. It was when, with a proud air, he described his fantastic theory to me. He told me that if he watered his plants, the roots would settle on the surface and always wait for the easy water from above. Since he did not water them, the trees would take longer to grow, but his roots would tend to migrate deeper, in search of water and nutrients found in the lower layers of the soil. Thus, according to him, the trees would have deep roots and would be more resistant to the elements.
That was the only conversation we had with my neighbor. Some time later I went to live in another country, and I never saw him again.
Several years later, upon returning from abroad, I went to take a look at my old residence. As I approached, I noticed a forest that was not there before. My old neighbor had realized his dream!!.
The curious thing is that that was a day with a very strong and icy wind, in which the trees on the street were arched, as if they were not resisting the rigors of winter. Meanwhile, as I approached the doctor’s yard, I noticed how solid its trees were: they practically didn’t move, stoically resisting that strong wind. What a curious effect, I thought…
The hardships through which those trees had passed, being patted and deprived of water, seemed to have benefited them in a way that comfort and easier treatment could never have.
Every night, before going to bed, I always take a look at my children. I look closely at their beds and see how they have grown. I often pray for them. Most of the time, I ask for their lives to be easy, so that they do not suffer the difficulties and aggressions of this world… I have thought, meanwhile, that it is time to change my prayers.
That change has to do with the fact that it is inevitable that strong, icy winds will reach us. I know that they will encounter innumerable difficulties and that, therefore, my wishes that difficulties do not occur have been very naive. There will always be a storm at some point in our lives, because, like it or not, life is not easy.
Contrary to what I have always done, I will now pray that my children grow up with deep roots, in such a way that they can draw energy from the best sources, from the most divine, which are always found in the most difficult places.
We always ask for facilities, but in truth what we need to do is ask to develop strong and deep roots, so that when the storms come and the icy winds blow, we resist bravely, instead of being subdued and swept away.
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