THE RIPENING PROCESS
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THE RIPENING PROCESS
Today is pouring rain. It is the fourth consecutive day of rain in Los Angeles. We need the rain very badly in California with the water shortage, the severe dry brush dying of thirst (which usually fuels our wildfires) and because our water quality is just getting worse. And even though state of emergency has been declared already in five counties in California, we all have faith that things will evolve, and those unfortunately affected by the devastation of mudslides will rebuild. Californians have been praying for rain for some time. And while none of us expected it all at once, it was delivered.
Ironically, with this very long winter we’ve been having – I am reminded of summer as I see citrus trees producing lemons just screaming to be made into lemonade. Two years ago, this tree was practically declared dead in a freeze, never to bear fruit ever again. But it came back. And while the weather right now is not ideal for refreshing lemonade, life returned and fruit was produced. Yes, there is a parallel.
There is a something so miraculous about timing. And I was reminded of this today during a very wonderful call with a friend. We marveled at the critical ‘timing’ of things, as we have not talked with one another in some time. Life happens, life gets busy, time flies and while you are busy living it, there are a number of experiences you go through, which eventually help you ‘get back to where you once belonged,” --- Thank you, Beatles.
This process is what I refer to as ‘ripening.’ We all go through it as human beings. We are the lemons as are the situations we endure. Sometimes we die on the vine and have to wait for the right amount of sunshine and rain to bring about a new ripening process. Sometimes this means we do new things, make new friends, take on life’s many challenges, experience tragedy and major life lessons and come back around to share them with those who never really left our life, but with those who have been there going through the same process themselves. It doesn’t matter what you are experiencing in life, something minor or something life-altering and tragic… We all go through this ripening because that’s what life is all about.
Today I was told by my sister that a local Macy’s store just closed. Businesses (including one of America’s largest retailers) experience this ‘ripening process,’ too. Things go in cycles, in seasons, and evolve back around in certain areas. Sometimes it takes this kind of closure to regroup (like cutting limbs back on a lemon tree, waiting for better weather) – and then there is an opportunity to grow and produce fruit once again.
No one likes to see natural disasters and acts of Mother Nature. But just like the faith we have in recovery from state of emergency, friends reconnecting, citrus trees growing and producing fruit, the economy turning around and Macy’s stores re-opening local outlets, with “Hope For Haiti,” and the on-going efforts to help with the devastation, even Haiti will ripen and come back around again. Haiti has had its problems long before these tragic earthquakes. But now there is an opportunity for the country to come back stronger, and with buildings that are built to code so it can start over.
From 9/11 and Katrina, Tsunamis and earthquakes, the declining housing market and horrific economy – with a lot of work, conscious effort, outreach, a lot of hope and faith, doing the footwork – we can all help recovery become a reality.
Time heals. People take action. Challenges happen to present new opportunity. And in times of crisis, we always rise to the occasion. The Ripening Process… we just need to keep making lemonade and be thankful that we have lemons (both small and large) to show each of us what we are made of so we can learn, grow, change and become better people – making the world a better place.
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