During my lilac raids, I’ve noticed that it’s the pruned bushes that produce the most flowers. If left to themselves, lilac bushes will grow big and busy with lots of branches and leaves, but it’s the ones that have been cut way back that become lilac producing machines. Makes sense. Without all those leaves demanding nutrients, the plant can funnel more of it’s resources into making flowers.
It’s the same principal at work in Olympic athletes. I look at them and think, “Wish I could do that.” I could, of course. If I’d given up french fries, sleeping in, after school cartoons, and weekend boredom. People who compete at that level have had their branches cut way back so that all their resources can be used to do one thing really, really well.
Frankly, I’m glad I’m not an Olympic athlete. (I like french fries and sleeping in.) But thinking about them and lilacs helps me understand why God might ask me to cut back on TV and movies. If I did, who knows what might grow.
