How long?

How long? 
Our quest for maturity
by Joel Howard

I can grow a radish in 30 days

I can grow a bean in 65

In three months I can offer you some corn

That's some tasty food in little time

In a few years I can grow a lemon tree

The first of its fruit are wonderful

Once matured it offers lemons plentiful

Abundance to give, take home and share

Three years for an orange tree

Four for olives

5 to 10 years to grow

some apples

Its a little more intimidating

A whole lot more investment

Days over years 

was easier to swallow

To grow an avocado tree takes 15 years

An oak tree may mature in 20

But you have to wait thirty additional years

For that same oak tree to yield its first acorns

The oldest dated tree is over 4,000 years

Its still around and you can go visit 

So why do I assume that I can, overnight, 

Become who Jesus Christ in me intended? 

30 days or 4,000 years, but never in a moment

Maturing takes blood, sweat and tears,

We have to first watch a lot of others succeed

We have to know our limitedness and own it

So look unto the tree, my heart, look to its roots

Look to the one who cultivates it

Look to the waiting, groaning, yearning and awakening

Look unto the process that forms it

Do not believe the lie that with a sum of money

You can skip from A to Z in time

Do not believe that there is somewhere else you should be

Don't believe you need a faster climb

Look unto the tree, my friend, look unto its fruit

See how the lemons, apples and acorns

Bless the world over with a single touch

But require much attention in how they're formed

Check your every longing, test your every fear

Question every worry, know that He is near

Be content with what you have, not with what you don't

If a tree can stick to it, who says that we won't?  

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