Tree on the Prairie

Calamity Jane is quite an amazing creature to behold. Let me tell you a little of what I witnessed during her remarkable journey.

But first, I must tell of my brother who loves trees. We did not live in a place that trees grew naturally and each tree had to be cared for and nurtured. He, in particular, loved to see what he could get to grow in that dusty little prairie village.

I, on the other hand had to mow the lawn - and those trees kept getting in the way. Sitting on the old Allis-Chalmers lawn tractor, I was apt to day dream and was know to mow right over some of his little seedlings that I mistook for, well for nothing since I was likely not paying attention.

He had planted a tree, not common for our parts, and I mowed over it that same year. Then I ran over it and I really thought it was dead. But it came back. It really didn't have any reason to hold on.

I really thought it was sort of silly to watch this little stick struggle for life. It didn't seem to even make any progress.

This last summer, we put a swing in it.

So it was with mighty Calamity Jane. She weighed in each morning. Soon she shared with me her progress and kept her calender out in plain sight. One morning, she lamented on the weary progress she was making. She could pass a week with nothing discernible to show.

Then, being the engineer I am, I graphed the weights she had recorded. To her astonishment, the graph revealed a general downward trend with occasional plateaus and even increases in weight. However, when I drew a line that generalized the trend we could predict when she would hit her target weight.

And she did it just as the prediction showed.

This is a demonstration of the principle of longsuffering and enduring to the end. I don't see the Gospel as a fast and easy pursuit. The Law of the Harvest prevails. We learn precept on precept. We are meant to grow; following the Savior's example - not instantly become our dream.

Here, I was taught by the example. CJ's righteous desire to take care of that gift, her body, reached her goal pound by pound. She applied the principles that she learned to be true. This was not instantaneous success; rather, she planted, tended then harvested her reward.

My brother could have given up on his little stick in the ground, but he nurtured and let it grow. It grew almost imperceptibly. I certainly did not witness any rapid movement. Yet there it stands, with boughs outstretched.

One thing for sure, she has moved me to begin a journey of greater health. Putting patience true principles into action can bring wonderful results.

(Thanks for letting me post!)