The Power of the Seed

One of the strangest

seeds in the world is the
seed of the Chinese bamboo
tree. It lies buried in the soil
for five years before any
seedling or sprout appears
above the ground. All during
this five years the seed must
be cultivated, that is, watered
and fertilized regularly. Now
comes the big surprise.

When the bamboo

seedling finally emerges
from the ground, it grows to
a height of nine feet in just
six weeks. Why does the
seedling take so long to
The Power
emerge? Why of doestheitSeed grow
so fast once it emerges?
Plant experts One ofsay thethatstrangest
during
seeds in the world
its first five years in the is thesoil
seed of the Chinese
the bamboo seed is busy bamboo
tree. It lies
building an buried
elaborate in the rootsoil
for five years
system. before
It’s this root any system
seedling
that enables or sprout
it to grow appears nine
above
feet in six weeks. All during
the ground.
this five years the seed must
be The
cultivated,
Seed so that is, watered
Small But So
and fertilized regularly.
Powerful, Mark Link, Now SJ
comes the big
Express Your Insights surprise.
1. The
Why Powerdoes it of takethethe Seed
bambooWhen seed fivethe bamboo
years
seedling
before itOne finally
of emerges
begins to sprout?
the strangest
from
2. What
seeds the ground,
in isthetheworld it is
grows
importance the to of
a height
sturdyofroot
seed of nine
the system feet
Chinesetobambooin ajust
six weeks.
plant?
tree. Why does
It lies buried in the thesoil
seedling
3. In
for fivewhat take
years so
waybefore long
do theany to
root
emerge?
and the soil
seedling Why does
enableappears
or sprout thegrow
it plant
so grow
to fastthe
above once it emerges?
tremendously?
ground. All during
Plant
4. How
this experts
five will
yearsyou say
the that
apply
seed during
themust
its first
lesson
be five years
learnedthat
cultivated, in
from the
is,the soil
story
watered
the
and bamboo
to your life asseed
fertilized young is busy
regularly. follower
Now
building
of Christ?
comes theanbig
elaborate
surprise. root
system. It’s this root system
that enables Whenit the to grow
bamboo nine
feet in six weeks.
seedling finally emerges
from the ground, it grows to
The Seed
a height of nine so feet
Smallin But
just So
six weeks. Why does the SJ
Powerful, Mark Link,
Express take
seedling YoursoInsights
long to
emerge? Whyit does
1. Why does take the
it grow
bamboo
so fast once seedit five years
emerges?
beforeexperts
Plant it begins saytothat
sprout?
during
its first five years in the soilof
2. What is the importance
sturdy
the root system
bamboo seed istobusya
plant?
building an elaborate root
3. In what
system. It’sway
thisdo thesystem
root root
and the soil enable
that enables it to grow nine the plant
to grow tremendously?
feet in six weeks.
4. How will you apply the
lesson
The learned
Seed sofrom Small the story
But So
to your life as young
Powerful, Mark Link, SJ follower
of Christ?Your Insights
Express
1. Why does it take the
bamboo seed five years
before it begins to sprout?
2. What is the importance of
sturdy root system to a
plant?
3. In what way do the root
and the soil enable the plant
to grow tremendously?
4. How will you apply the
lesson learned from the story
to your life as young follower
of Christ?