A second chance

This is the cashew tree in the PIMS campus, which is blossoming and bearing fruits at an unusual season of the year. Normally Cashew fruits are seen in the trees during summer season. 

This was one tree in the last summer, which did not have fruits although there were few blossoms. This is a tree standing next to the tube well, whose bed received silt during the drilling of the tube well and showed signs of withering. I noticed about four months back, that a lot of red soil was deposited at the bed of this tree, for its use elsewhere. Of course, the tree benefitted and blossomed to produce these fruits.

This tree is at the junction of the road, which proceeds to the hostels and residential area. I remember standing here and looking at this tree on several occasions during which occasions,some students would engage me in a conversation. Once the conversation was on the issue, 'What happens when one fails in the examination'! I was able to share with them the story of the tree. It is a living example of resilience. 

There is always a second chance. The tree received soil supplements and revived itself.

Whenever there is a set back,  it is good to look back to learn from it and look forward with even more enthusiasm. We fail when we do not learn from an experience or keep preoccupied with the set back. We are endowed with prospects; make necessary changes to make another effort. What reinforces failure is blaming and justification. What is needed is to move forward with acceptance and openness. God is our enabler.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)