Life through the Eye of Nature II – Avocadoes

I love avocadoes. I love them a lot. The Tanzanian ones though. I tried some elsewhere. I couldn’t understand why they had to be so expensive and they were just not what I like. And the worst of it, not being ripe even after days. That was not what I was used to. Bring me anything from Mbeya -Tukuyu, Kyela or Njombe the new gold. And now, from this tree at my residence. Three days out of the trees and they are ready to eat. I can eat anything with them. Ugali, kande, rice, pilau, potatoes, fries, spaghetti. You name the dish, I will think of how it tastes and get my taste buds ready. Looks like I was fed a lot of them growing up.

The Avocado Tree at My Place

There is a big avocado tree in the middle of the yard at the place where I live. The tree bears fruits twice a year, in April to May and January to February. The avocadoes are usually big when you pluck them when they are ready. Slide pictures below.

There is an interesting thing about this avocadoes tree.

(i) It is planted a few steps from my room, so I can see it through my window

(ii) Ready (mature) or ripe, the fruits are green in colour

(iii) When the fruits are ready, they just fall. Only the ready, ripe fruits (not ready to eat as you need to wait for some days to soften up)

(iv) I can hear each avocado falling, as long as I am around and awake (sometimes- even in my sleep)

(v) Although hard when falling, the avocadoes ripen and soften in two to three days. And they ripe together if plucked at the same time

(vi) The fruits are usually, fatty, and delicious if stored well. A cut fruit can stay fresh even for 3 more days. Think about the Iringa Town weather (room temperature-control air and heat)

(vii) The tree is surrounded by land and flower beds. So, every avocado falls safely with only a few hitting the trees’ hard branches or roots. Some even hit the cement around flower beds.

(viii) The impact on the fruits heating the solid ground can only be noticed if the green fruit has bruises or cuts; or is ripe. When ripe, the inside of the fruit feels damaged with black stripes on the fruit itself. And the fruit’s hard peel shows areas of impact.

(ix) No matter how strong the wind blows, the fruits only fall when it is calm and when they are ready.

Avocadoes Falling

I had been at this residence for 5 months when I first saw the fruits ready for harvest. I arrived here last August and I saw what the tree looks like without fruits. The leaves, flowers, the fruits. The first and the second rain help the fruits grow. Then I heard the fruit falling. I witnessed the first of the biggest fruits falling to the ground and yet stand strong.

The first time I heard the fruits falling, I was like, it is not my tree, not my place. It is a student’s and nuns’ residence. So apart from ours, there is the residence caretaker’s place. So, what came to my mind the first time, I heard the fruit; Who was I to take it?

It was from then that lessons have been taught and reminded to me over again.

Remember: I am the only one closest to the tree and I hear whenever the fruits are falling. I am the one who sleeps late always. So what was I missing there?

God reminded me of the following:

(i) As much as you want something, be open to receiving it; Matthew 7:7-8
The avocadoes did not fall every time. There were days when the winds blew strongly for hours yet, no fruit fell. It was after the winds. When it was quiet, silent, calm, when I could hear them fall, the fruits fell. It was when I believed there was a ripe and ready fruit. It was when I was expectant, positively that He shall provide. I found.

(ii) Why do you think someone else is better; Judges 6:12-16
Like opportunities out there, why do we overlook ourselves thinking someone else is better for them rather than trying? The fruits fell. I heard them falling. Yet, on many occasions, the thoughts of someone else being the right person for them just keep springing up. You are the right person for the opportunity, the blessing if only you believe you are with and in Him. If it happens around you, it requires you to move ahead. It is not about what is happening away, but if you are a part of it, you are likely to be the perfect party to bring solutions and changes. Accept responsibilities where you are.

(iii) Even with His assurance, why are we reluctant to reach and take what we believe is ours? Psalm 31:14-15, Proverbs 3:5:
It is not because we are better than others but because we understand and are wise enough to take advantage of our positions, grace and faith. I am the closest to the tree. I hear the fruits falling. Every time the Spirit told me to get up and go pick it up. With all the assurance I had, yet, my low self everything kept on listening for someone else to go for it. The funny thing was, there were days when someone else went for it. It was in these days, I felt like a loser and foolish. It was so foolish, but it took many lessons to get it, finally.
Someone has explained it better. Even when we believe, we are reluctant to pursue. Because we are afraid of being vulnerable to the unknown. It requires surrender to what we do not see, fear overcomes the faith and we miss His plans.

Note:

(iv) “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19, Lamentations 3:22-23
It wasn’t that the fruits only fell when I heard of them falling. But even when I was not around or asleep. Learning the best times to access something will save the trouble. Learning that change in seasons and what is required of us in such seasons will save us the pain coming with no understanding. Waking up early in the day. Or coming back when the darkness has just covered the earth. You just had to do two things. Take your flashlight out and check over the area under and around the tree. In the flowers, on the grass. An avocado was always there. An opportunity is always there.

Are we seeing things consistently to the direction God is taking us through? Are we hearing things consistently to the direction God is taking us through? Do you believe in what He is teaching you?

Apostle Michael Orokpo

The God kind of Faith…

(i) Believe and trust God when He promises something. There were the days when the owners plucked most of the mature avocadoes from the trees. They gave out some to each resident present. I received my share as well. But there was a problem after or rather a self-inflicted concern (worry, fear). After most of the mature fruits were placked and shared, I had more than enough for days. I had a lot of fruit. Some fruits were ripe and some were not ready for consumption. The avocadoes stopped falling. After days of good fruit-eating and them coming to an end, I started getting worried. Guess, I will just have to go back to the market to buy where I got them before.

(ii) Trust the process. The fruits are always there. Seen or not. Mature or not. Only when you believe you can access and get them above all you need them and are ready to move. Like opportunities. You have to believe they are there, you got to believe they are accessible and you are ready to move to tap them. You have to move to pick up, obtain, take something.

(iii) Be a child to your father. The excitement, gratefulness and wild joy, jumping up and down after receiving the gift from your father. Be just that, a kid. Learn. Obey. Always expect but do not get entitled it will kill the joy and faith. Watch out for surprises and miracles. They are, we are.

(iv) Give it time. The avocadoes do not just appear and mature overnight. They take time. In the slides above, you can see and even feel the difference between the two fruits. Both are avocadoes. They have just been accessed at different times and seasons. Give yourself time when working your faith and accessing the person and being God builds you to become. It will take affliction, tests, and hard work but with God’s grace and power, you will become.

(v) The early bed catches the worm. I first heard of this proverb from my favourite English teacher. Mr. Lugongo in my early secondary school years. Bless you, wherever you are. This lesson has been with me for 16 years now. The proverb says it all. Someone who arrives first or starts something early has a better chance of success. It is not only about the timing but understanding what is required in the seasons you are in. What requires your attention? Does it require you to think first and fast? What requires your surrender but prompt decision? Do that.
As much as the fruits are ready and fall, as many as many opportunities are there for you to grab, it will benefit no one if applications are made late, unprepared or without quality. Do the work. Arise each day with expectations and be willing to do the work.

The End of the Season

As much as you and I love something, we should be and always remember and understand the seasons change. Seasons change, fruits change. Fruits will always be there. When seasons change and we don’t get to see what we love or access what we want, it does not mean God is SILENT. It means we need to learn and see Him moving us to another level. Like an infant depending on the mother for the milk, seasons will change and the baby will need solid food. Not accessing breast milk doesn’t mean there is no love. It means grace and ability are upon us to access different things, in other new areas.

In the words of Apostle Orokpo Michael, no matter how much oil is poured on your head, you must rise, accept the responsibility and journey, put it to work and become (shine). Arise.

The seasons will continue to change. The avocadoes will fall again when ready and opportunities will always be there. How aware are we of them? What is He telling you, commanding you to do? Do you believe it? What are we telling ourselves? What do we choose to do after? Continue to slumber or arise and work our bodies to the avocadoes and opportunities around us in this life? Are we shining enough to impact humanity or there is no one behind us due to our walk in darkness? Arise. Shine. Live. In Him.

Just a word to think about. Identify your avocado trees and opportunities. Analyse what is stopping you from first believing, working and then becoming. Listen to the Spirit. Obey. Work it. Shine. Many will see the glory of God through His goodness in your life and glorify Him.
Everything has a purpose. GLORY is His for us here. And as trees planted beside the River, let us live purposely, fruitfully and wisely in Him.

Arise each day with expectations