All the Rambutan trees in our garden have a colourful appearance with the fruits turning yellow and red !
All the trees have a history between ten and five years. Each of them has fruits in abundance during this season.
I remember how they were saplings of about one foot high, which are now tall and are spread out in all directions, making the ground underneath bare, without any undergrowth, as the foliage is thick to allow the sunlight to fall on the ground.
A parable Jesus of Nazareth spoke comes to my mind. Referring to a mustard seed, 'which when sown upon the soil, though is smaller than all the seeds, yet, when it is sown, grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches, so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade' (Mark. 4: 31- 32).
While it is true of mustard plants, it applies equally to the Rambutan trees. We prune the trees every year so that their growth would not arrest the growth of other plants.
We notice these trees when they bear fruits.
For the rest of the year the trees remain with the thick foliage, allowing the birds to find their shelter or to nest.
The last photo with one fruit already eaten probably by a squirrel, even before it is fully ripe, indicates how the tree sustains life.
To be fruitful is to be available!
It was while listening to the story of a four year old child narrated by the team of professionals in a hospital, I became even more aware about the value of being available to listen and support ! This school going child, at the age of four years developed a febrile illness which led to a protracted illness with encephalopathy from which the child recovered with hearing loss and weakness of one side of the body. The parents asked me: 'Will she recover'! I was touched the way the professional team is active to do whatever is possible. The child now wearing the hearing aids is showing indications of hearing and responding! The mobility has returned.
The listening attitude and thoughtful responses of the professionals become therapeutic for the family to experience comfort to their troubled hearts!
Being available is one way of living our lives fruitfully!
A mustard plant and a Rambutan tree give fruits good for us and birds! They also become shelter for birds of the air!
Being present to bear fruits for others!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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