Learning from the Currant Bush

     Years ago there was a church talk given by Hugh B. Brown about a Currant Bush. In his talk he describes how he owned a farm and had come across a currant bush that had grown to over 6 ft tall, but yielded no fruit. He decided to prune it, so that it could start over and grow to become what it needs to become. As he was just finishing up, it looked almost as though the Currant bush had tears coming out of the stumps he just pruned, and he thought he heard it say, “how could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth”.

    Many times in my life I have felt like this currant bush. Right when I feel as though I am making some of my best progress yet, I get cut back and cut down. I have spent a lot of time crying about this, and wondering why I keep getting cut back. I get frustrated, down, and angry, because I have worked so hard to become what I am, just to get my course corrected once again. I have asked God the question myself, “how could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth.”

    Every single time in my life I can recall asking God this question though, I realize now that it came right before an event or opportunity in my life where if I had not been pruned back, I would have never experienced or lived it. 

    My first recollection of really asking this question was my freshman year of highschool. It was the middle of basketball season and I was just coming into my own as a basketball player. The offseason work was starting to pay off and it was noticeable. I had always lived and tried to fill the shoes my dad had placed before me with his professional basketball career. It was something I took pride and joy in every single day, and I finally felt like I was getting to a point where I was growing and fitting into his shoes. 

    Then when things seemed like they could never be better and I was on top of the world, a new path was presented to me. One that would drastically effect my future as an athlete if things didn’t go well. That path was cancer. I remember sitting in the doctors office crying on my moms shoulder as my dad stood in front of me, and said, “Son, you have Leukemia. Son, you have cancer.” Just thinking about that moment is making me cry right now. Still to this day I can feel the same heartache I experienced as a 15 year old boy. I felt as though all the life got sucked out of me, and almost instantly the shoes I had tried so hard to fill my entire life were taken away from me. 

    But then I was reminded that I have my own shoes to fill. I have my own book to write. So it was time for me to take courage and continue forward. Cut back, torn down, and crying, I started my rebuild. I started my regrowth. 

    Fast forward to today, I’m stronger and tougher than I have ever been before, yet once again I find myself on my knees crying and hurting, Asking God, “How could you do this to me?”. Lex and I have worked so hard to get to where we are at physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet we continue to be pruned and cut down. Lex continues to be phenomenal at setting a wonderful example to me, even despite the constant pain and heartache she endures everyday. She is truly the greatest example I know of a willingness to endure pain.  Watching her is one of the hardest things Ive ever had to do, and I often find myself curious about why she has to endure everything she’s enduring.

    Then in moments of beauty and joy I’m reminded that she too is being pruned and cut down for a specific purpose. There is a reason she endures the trials she does, and that’s because when it’s all said and done, she will be the bearer of many many fruits, for years and years to come, and at the impact and blessing of many many lives. Luckily for me, my life will be the one that has had the biggest impact because of it and I am eternally grateful for that.

    Going back to the currant bush story. After the currant bush asks the Gardener why he cut him back, the Gardener has a wonderful response. He tells the little bush, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. If I let you go the way you want to go, you will never amount to anything. But someday, when you are laden with fruit, you and going to think back and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”

    I’m lucky because being able to write those blogs helps me process some of the frustration and tears I endure about our struggles. It’s helps me start my regrowth process just like the currant bush and pray for brighter days. Days where I will bear fruit and experience joy. 

    Today I am grateful for the growth we’ve had up to this point. I know its possible because I’ve seen it done before and I’ve lived it before. Growth doesn’t come quick. It takes time. Sometimes weeks, sometimes months, sometimes even years, but growth is achievable. I know that to be true and I promise you that. So I guess what I’m saying today is this, “Thank you Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.” Because if he wouldn’t have done that years and years ago, when I was a 15 year old boy on top of the world, I would not be the man I am today. 

    Here is the link to a quick and condensed 3 minute video on the talk given on the currant bush for those of you interested. This story truly does touch my heart and I think about it frequently. I’m grateful that I had it in my life today. It’s a wonderful blessing and constant reminder that God is in charge.  I hope it helps you too :) https://youtu.be/Rr8xvw0cgw0