Like the plantain tree
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV) Matt 28:19-20
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” (NIV) 1 Corinthians 16:13
Nature has a way of teaching us so many lessons. One plant I am amazed at is the plantain tree. It is a tropical tree of the banana genus. In fact, it is difficult to differentiate between the plantain and the banana tree. The difference is in their fruits. The tree bears fruits once and during harvesting, it is cut down. I noticed two district characteristics of this tree that we can learn from.
My grandmother started her plantain farm with few plantain seedlings but after few years there were plantain trees everywhere and she struggled to keep their propagation under control. This is because, before the tree reaches maturity, one or more start shooting beside it and the cycle continues. Christians can take a clue from this. We are to make disciples of all nations. If we decide to make disciples of at least one person before we are called to eternity and those disciples do the same, the entire world will be disciples of Christ. This will also ensure the continuity of God’s work till the world is no more. It is our responsibility to take the good news to everybody irrespective of their location, gender, or religious ideologies. If a tree can ensure its continuity and eliminate its extinction, we can do better.
The second characteristic of the plantain tree which marvels me is its ability to grow back after it is cut down. The tree looks so feeble when upright that it is unbelievable how it manages to grow back after it is cut at the stem close to the ground. The only time the tree dies is when it is uprooted. Christians must learn that we live in a world filled with so many troubles and we are not immune to them. So when we are faced with the troubles of this world, we should not give up but rather take courage and look to the Giver of strength and rise above the struggles and emerge bigger and stronger. Let the nature of the feeble plantain tree, motivate you to rise from the struggles that have caused you to give up on yourself and life as a whole. Arise and Shine!
May the Lord help us embrace the two important nature of the plantain tree in our lives, in Christ’s name-AMEN!