No More Frustration: The Thorns of Opportunity - Part II

Home
>
Inspirational
>
No More Frustration: The Thorns of Opportunity - Part II

No More Frustration: The Thorns of Opportunity - Part II

The quest for the ultimate victory.

In part one I shared with you how not knowing what you don't know, much like the "thorny" gardener, can rob you of your time, and keep you from enjoying and living the life you want.

You also learned how a seemingly accidental event can instantly change your life, as you experience the magic of an "ah ha" moment.

Do you ever find yourself saying "Why bother!" or asking "What's the point?" I mean you put in the time and effort only to end up with a result you don't like or worse yet, a result you know others won't like.

How many projects have you left incomplete, simply because you didn't like the results?

Read on and learn why the frustration of incomplete projects doesn't have to happen.

In this story you will learn that perfection often has little to do with being perfect.

Today I am going to tell you about the third field of roses and how the gardener of that field tended to the 1000's of rose bushes in the third field.

Much like the "thorny" gardener, the third gardener was constantly clipping buds from the rose bushes.

Working from sun up to sun down it took every ounce of energy the third gardener had to clip the 1000's of rose buds. Weeds were constantly a distraction.

There was never enough time to tend to both the rose buds and the weeds. Still, the gardener tried.

So, why is it that the third gardener was clipping the rose buds? Unlike the "thorny" gardener the third gardener was well aware of the bud's purpose and very much wanted the rose to bloom.

In fact the third gardener focused every waking moment on making sure the rose bloom had every opportunity to bloom to perfection.

You see the third gardener was not focused on the thorny bush nor was the gardener inspired by the possibility of a field filled with 1000's of colorful blooms.

The third gardener, the "perfect" gardener, was not focused on having a field of roses. The "perfect bloom" was the focus of the "perfect gardener."

With all of the "perfect" gardener's effort it was still true, more often than not, that the field was filled with nothing but thorny bushes, without a single bloom.

If the "perfect" gardener" wasn't examining a bush and clipping it's buds, the gardener was tending to the weeds.

On many occasions you could find the "perfect" gardener digging up a rose bush to make room for a new and improved rose bush. You see, only the best rose bush could produce the perfect bloom.

After all the "perfect bloom," was the "perfect" gardener's dream.

To even be considered as a contender the bloom must have a certain shape, quality of color, the right number of pedals, and that one of a kind and alluring fragrance.

The "perfect bloom" started with the "perfect bud." The "perfect" gardener was always asking, "Could this bud produce the perfect rose?

Few buds survived being clipped.

As life would have it, in a forgotten part of the field; in an area where the soil was riddled with rocks and was dry more often than not, stood a thorny bush.

This bush was different and it was not easily seen. The little bush was surrounded and nearly smothered by the many weeds.

Still, without the attention and care of the "perfect" gardener the rose bush in the forgotten part of the field, would grow.

Stunted by the limits of it's environment the little bush was easily missed as it continued to grow. That is until that one special moment, that special morning when the bush would produce a single bloom.

It was a morning like every other for the "perfect" gardener.

While bending over to clip a bud the morning breeze changed direction and with the changing breeze the "perfect" gardener was suddenly able to notice a fragrance so perfect and sweet.

The fragrance was captivating.

Immediately without a clip the "perfect" gardener stood in surprise. As the gardener scanned the field of thorny bushes, the gardener quickly realized, there was not a single bloom to be seen.

Franticly the gardener began to search the field for the source of the alluring fragrance.

The "perfect" gardener went from corner to corner, and even zigged and zagged across the field of thorny bushes and still not a bloom was to be seen.

At wits end, and the gardener's frustration peaked a break was needed. The gardener move quickly away from the field.

As luck would have it, once again, the morning breeze would change direction.

The alluring fragrance would have the gardener change direction and eagerly begin to survey the surrounding areas of the field. The anticipation of finding the source of such a fragrance was almost to much to bear.

To the gardener's left, near a pile of discarded rose bushes, and hidden amongst the weeds was a color that seemed out of place, a color that didn't seem to belong.

Moving quickly to see, the morning breeze would confirm the gardener was en route to the source of the captivating fragrance. Breaking into a full stride the gardener moved toward the clump of weeds.

Once the gardener was upon the clump of weeds, the rose, the "perfect bloom," was now plain to see. Quickly pushing the weeds away, the gardener kneeled to take in the magnificence of the perfect bloom.

As the "perfect" gardener held the perfect bloom a question came to mind; "how?" How could such a perfect rose bloom be found on such a bush?

In fact the rose bush was more like a short crooked twig with many thorns and a few leaves.

Standing slowly the gardener looked in disbelief. It was difficult to know how a bush, which was thrown away, could survive as it did.

The morning had come and gone as the gardener now looked at the field of thorns. The questions were many. All the work, and all the time, how could this be?

The gardener would spend the next few mornings amongst the weeds enjoying the perfection of such a bloom.

As the perfect bloom began to fade the gardener asked "what is next?" With a smile the once "perfect" gardener started tending the weeds.

No longer would the gardener hurry to clip the buds, no longer would the gardener hurry to examine a bush, and no longer would the gardener discard a bush.

This season the gardener's heart would fill with joy as the field of thorns became a field of blooms.

No longer would the gardener wait for such a perfect bloom.

The once "perfect" gardener could now see the perfection in each of the many blooms.

The perfection the gardener once tried so hard to create now was easy to see.

James Smith
Email - article0020002@alifeofpossibility.com
Web - http://www.alifeofpossibility.com?article002 0002
Phone - 405.521.8609

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Gaza fighting rages despite cease-fire proposal (AP)

AP - Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid. Hamas responded with a rocket barrage.

Pink slips pile higher amid deepening recession (AP)

AP - Pink slips are piling higher as companies scramble to cut costs even deeper to survive the country's economic and financial storms.

Obama taps spending watchdog, eyes Social Security (AP)

AP - Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.

Senate Democrats yield to Obama, retreat on Burris (AP)

AP - Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked that the standoff was draining attention and putting them in a bad light. Burris said with a smile he expected to join them "very shortly."

Fatal Calif. train station shooting sparks anger (AP)

AP - Protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer turned violent Wednesday night with windows broken, fires set and train stations closed.

Obama hails 'extraordinary' moment with presidents (AP)

AP - Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club.

Melting snow causes heavy flooding in Wash. state (AP)

AP - Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures as the heavy snowfall that has buried parts of the state began to rapidly melt.

Feds say inauguration attractive terrorist target (AP)

AP - The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan. 20 event.

'Dark Knight' sweeps People's Choice Awards (AP)

AP - Holy People's Choice Awards, Batman!

Lin, Harvard upset No. 17 Boston College 82-70 (AP)

AP - Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College on Wednesday night, three days after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina.

Israel bombards Gaza as U.S. backs ceasefire proposal (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli warplanes bombed targets across the Gaza Strip on Thursday and tanks advanced on Palestinian guerrillas as U.S. backing for a truce proposal raised expectations of an end to the offensive.

Obama to lay out case for stimulus in speech (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama will call for quick action on a fiscal stimulus package in a speech on Thursday aimed at reassuring Americans that he is determined to stem the economic crisis.

Rockets from Lebanon hit northern Israel: police (Reuters)

Reuters - Three rockets fired from Lebanon exploded in northern Israel on Thursday, the first since the Jewish state launched an offensive in Gaza two weeks ago, Israeli police said.

Profit warnings, job losses herald lasting slowdown (Reuters)

Reuters - A fresh wave of profit warnings and job cuts soured investor sentiment on Thursday after an employment report suggested U.S. job losses in December could be the worst in almost 60 years.

Senate Democrats move to seat Burris (Reuters)

Reuters - In an abrupt switch, Democratic leaders began talks on Wednesday to swear in Roland Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Buyers rejoice: Manhattan home prices finally fall (Reuters)

Reuters - It took war, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and the collapse of some of New York's famed investment banks, but Manhattan apartment prices are finally falling.

Mumbai-like attack could happen in U.S. : Bush aide (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. cities are vulnerable to an attack like the gun-and-grenade assault that terrorized Mumbai for three days and killed 179 people, the White House homeland security adviser said on Wednesday.

"Enemy combatant" will be early test for Obama (Reuters)

Reuters - The case of Ali al-Marri, accused of being an al Qaeda "sleeper" agent and held for 5-1/2 years at a U.S. military prison in South Carolina, will be an early test for President-elect Barack Obama.

Four rockets hit northern Israel from Lebanon: military (AFP)

AFP - Four rockets hit northern Israel from Lebanon early Thursday, military sources told AFP.

Israel bombs Gaza tunnels as peace moves gather pace (AFP)

AFP - Israeli warplanes bombed suspected arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza early Thursday, as diplomats worked to secure a ceasefire in an offensive that has killed 700 Palestinians.

No More Frustration: The Thorns of Opportunity - Part II

Inspirational Inspirational