Don’t ever give up…

One day I decided to quit…I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

“God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”

His answer surprised me.

“Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”

“Yes”, I 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.

“In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. The same continued in year four.

“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.

“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 with others.” He said. “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. “Your time will come”, God said to me. “You will rise high.”

“How high should I rise?” I asked.

“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.

“As high as it can?” I questioned.

“Yes.” He said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And He will never give up on you.

Life is never without its own quota of ups and downs. There will be failures, setbacks and challenges in life. Not facing them courageously or running away from them is not the solution, but cowardice.

We may, at times, fall from the ideals we have set ourselves. To fall and slip down the slope of a mountain is much easier than to climb across the summit to its very peak. Evolution is the result of effort and struggle, sweat and suffering. There is no new birth ever possible without its own share of labor pains.

There is no sin in having a fall, but there is only sin in not rising, with more vigor and strength after the fall. Don’t be like a piece of inert stone which continues to remain where it has fallen. Instead, be like a rubber ball which bounces back with more vigor and strength the moment it falls.

Never ever give up.

Never regret a day in your life.
Never ever live in regret.

Good days give us happiness; bad days give us experiences.
Both are essential to life.

A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions. And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey.

Keep going…