The Bamboo Farmer

 Chinese folktale of a bamboo farmer.

The man had been farming traditional crops all of his life, just like everyone else in his small, rural community. Realizing that he wanted more for himself and his family, he started researching alternatives.

He considered many factors, including the climate and soil conditions in the region as well as what equipment he would require, and ultimately made the decision to grow bamboo.

When others in the community heard of his plans, they scoffed. "We have grown the same crops here for generations. That's just how it is. It's what we do."

The farmer was undeterred and remained steadfast in his decision.

The following spring when it came time to plant, he stayed true to his plan and seeded his land for growing bamboo.

The growing season came and went that year. And while his neighbors harvested their traditional crops, the farmer's crops showed no signs of growth.

Undaunted, the farmer remained confident in his decision.

The following year, he continued to carefully and diligently tend to his crops. And at the end of this second year, he again had nothing to show for all of his efforts.

The third and fourth years brought the same results, and yet he continued to believe.

In the fifth year, the farmer persisted with his plan, trusting that this was the right course of action. And then it happened.

When he awoke one morning and went out to tend to his crops, he was greeted with an amazing sight. His crops had not only sprouted, they had grown more than one foot in height!

And the growth continued. By the end of the season, he had a veritable bamboo forest.

How did this happen? Did the plants lie dormant for four years only to grow exponentially in the fifth? Or were they laying a foundation, silently growing underground as they developed a root system strong enough to support the potential for outward growth in the fifth year and beyond?

Had the farmer not persisted, not continued to nourish and tend to his crops with such faith and conviction, they would have perished without ever seeing the light of day