Ready for story time? :)
In July, I received my very first plant. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had flowers before, which I love, but I’m only responsible for watering them once. Then, they shrivel up and pass away. RIP. Now, I have a plant to call my own and brighten up my office space. It even has a smiley face balloon on it. LOVE.
Some time passed and I was out of the office for a long weekend. Only to come back and find dead, fallen leaves on my desk. I couldn’t understand how my vibrant plant became so lifeless. It may or may not have been because I neglected to water it sufficiently the week before. Even with my neglect, couldn’t the plant just hold on for a few more days?
Nah, homie.
This sad, suffering, dying plant taught me this:
You can’t thrive in a place of lack and neglect. You can’t give what you don’t possess.
My plant can’t survive on water that I gave it weeks ago. It. Will. Die.
As obvious as this sounds, we fall victim to this in more ways than one.
Spiritually - To grow and mature in our Christian walk, it requires DAILY doses of living water. A Sunday sermon is not enough to sustain through the attacks that are sure to come Monday through Saturday. We should stay armed and ready for battle (Ephesians 6:10-18).
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2
Creatively - Jack London said “You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” How often do we get an idea and push pause because we’re uninspired? Inspiration comes from exposure and reflection. As simply as a plant can remind me of simple truths, every day life can do the same for you!
Educationally - Statistics show that 85% of self-made millionaires read two non-fiction books a month. Successful people prioritize personal growth. They invest in education and innovation. In an information age, we have access to everything. *TIP* Since I have a pretty hectic schedule, I opt for a lot of podcasts and audiobooks, in additional to ebooks and traditional books.
Let’s commit to feeding our mind, body and spirit, faithfully.
Remember, you can’t pour out wisdom and innovation, from an empty place.
Also, in case you were wondering, I started watering my plant a few times a week. It's still alive! SHOCKER.
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