This is a story of a plant who hadn’t blossomed in the summer, nor the summer previous. In fact, this plant had yet to blossom and grow flowers. As the days grew colder, and the wind brought on a chill, this plant was determined to blossom. Clearly, it thought, the warm summer days were not it’s harvest time therefore it should try as hard as it can to blossom in the autumn.
Day after day staying alive became harder and harder. The rain no longer refreshed it’s leaves reaching out for a drink, now it stung as each drop splattered onto the plant. Slowly the plant’s leaves would begin to wither and curl, but by now the rain became softer and gentler. No longer did the rain sting as it fell, now it was numbing as it gently came to a rest as each snowflake landed upon the leaves.
“This must be a sign,” thought the plant “that this is the season for my harvest.”
Despite the cold the plant stretched out it’s leaves to catch sun and snow. Nourishment as difficult to gather as the leaves wanted to retract to stay warm, but the plant was determined. The plant was sure it had flowers to blossom if only it could find the right season to yield them.
But as the bitter days continued the leaves on the plant grew stiff. As it retracted it’s leaves at night to keep warm they began to crack and break. But the plant was determined. It just had to wait longer, for determination is a mark of success.
But week after week it’s leaves grew more and more brittle. One morning the plant found it could not stretch out it’s leaves to gather nutrients. The time had come for the winter to win as the plant withered away. The plant had retreated back to the ground with all it’s half broken leaves. And as soon as it did the sun appeared again. And without hesitation the plant sprung back up.
“This must be my harvest season,” thought the plant.
Now had the plant retreated to the ground before winter, it might have survived this early spring weather. But being badly scorned from the cold snow, the plant with broken and cracked leaves had little left to catch enough nourishment to survive. Within weeks the plant withered away to one last broken leaf. Realizing the pain and failure the plant had endured it decided to give up and retreat once more to the ground.
This time, the plant was determined to stay there. The plant had now attempted to flourish in all seasons, and none of them produced flowers. Maybe the plant was not meant to produce sweet smelling blossoms like the rest. Maybe someday it will come above ground, but for now the plant decided to remain in the dirt of the ground.
One summer’s day the plant decided to reappear. This time accepting the fact that no blossom’s would appear. The plant decided to grow and heal it’s broken leaves instead. It would stretch out it’s luscious green leaves proudly knowing that is all it will ever grow.
But this summer was different. Maybe the sun was brighter. Maybe the rain was fresher. Maybe the air was cleaner. Whatever it was, the plant grew quickly and proudly. Although some remained broken as a reminder of the scorn, most of it’s leaves had healed and flourished.
Along with it’s strengthened leaves a weird addition was growing from the stem. Something the plant never felt before. At first it was scary and the plant wanted to retreat in fear of it being a disease of some sort. But the plant was curious. It didn’t feel painful, it just felt different.
With each day the addition grew taller and rounder and pressure began to build up within it. The plant expected it to hurt and waited for it to cause harm, but it never did. As the growth increased in pressure it simply grew in size to compensate.
And one bright sunny day a layer from the addition peeled back with such grace. The next day another layer on the opposite side of the almond shaped growth curled back. This time the peeled back layer revealed something hidden inside. The plant did not know exactly what it was, or how this was happening, all it knew was that this was good. This was very good.
As each layer day after day peeled back to reveal what was inside, the pressure that was built up seemed to seep out in such a sweet aroma that soared as the wind picked it up. Still unsure as to what it was growing inside this bud, the plant was happy. Not just because it was blossoming something, but because of the beauty the blossom would someday reveal in full bloom. It may not be able to be seen just yet, but it’s there. It just needs time to grow and flourish before it is fully revealed.
This, for sure, was the true season of harvest for the plant.
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