mango moment

a friend was telling me Friday
of the mango tree

this tree is pruned when in full bloom
heavily laden with fruit

apparently the abundance of fruit
poses a danger to the tree
there is the possibility of the trunk weakening
under all the weight

so, this tree is pruned when at its most magnificent
externally appearing wonderfully healthy

after pruning
the tree appears dead
and rather ugly


and so it is with sheep

it is when the sheep are rounded with wool
when they have a most delightful appearance
that they are pruned or sheared ...........

and it is that very wool that can pose danger

the weight of the wool can cause a sheep
to stagger or stumble

if one should fall on its back
it is unable to get back up
and death can occur
unless the shepherd notices
and is able to set the animal back on its feet

interesting too
that when sheep are freshly sheared
they are most vulnerable to disease
and insect infestation

the shepherd
liberally pours oil
on the head and nose
of sheep
to deter bugs

and all this has caused me to think
of how we too are pruned
by the hand of our shepherd
the hand of the gardener of our souls

there is a danger to us as well
to be surrounded by abundance

there is the temptation to
spend more time maintaining the abundance
than ensuring good health
a strong relationship
with the source
of the abundance

so we must be careful how we look at things

we can marvel
at one who is in the middle of great abundance
and perhaps
be a little envious

or we can look at one who appears
a little barren
rather ugly
dead
and perhaps
dismiss them
as useless

we can try to run
and avoid our own pruning

or we can accept
and find joy in the fact
we are being readied
strengthened
to bear the weight
of the coming fruit

thanks to Alan K for the photos