It is a fundamental observation of the natural world that trees grow from seeds. In the case of the great redwood trees, their seeds must be cracked open under fiery conditions before they can sprout. Similarly, recovery begins with small steps and continues to grow as we exercise these steps in our daily lives. From hospitals and institutions, our members have grown into highly respected contributors to the lives around them.
This transformation is not due to God singling us out for special favors. It is simply a law of life: when we are interested in a subject, we find more knowledge coming to us almost "out of the blue" as we continue to seek it. It is as if hidden forces were gathering up ideas and pushing them in our direction.
This is the "new freedom and new happiness" promised in the AA Big Book (p. 83-84).
The concept of "seeds becoming forests" resonates deeply across various disciplines, including philosophy, ecology, and spirituality. Here are some inspiring examples:
Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."
Greek Proverb: "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." This emphasizes the long-term impact of individual actions on the larger community.
Martin Luther: "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."
A simple search will provide many more examples, reinforcing the powerful truth that small actions lead to great outcomes.
Turning to the spirituality of planting a seed, we find beautiful examples in theology:
Matthew 13:31-32 (Parable of the Mustard Seed):
"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."
Ezekiel 17:22-24 (God Plants a Small Sprig that Becomes a Mighty Tree):
"Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell."
Doctrine and Covenants 64:33:
"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."
Final Thoughts
The journey from a single seed to a vast forest mirrors our own spiritual and personal growth. Small, faithful efforts—whether in recovery, learning, or faith—can lead to extraordinary outcomes. As we continue planting these seeds, we nurture not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us, contributing to a flourishing, interconnected forest of hope and renewal.
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