Not All Flowers Bloom in View

Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it.

Bahá’u’lláh

It’s thought-provoking to be reminded that not everything we have to say should necessarily be shared. To complicate matters further, even when something is worth sharing, it may not be the right time to do so. And finally, even if we find the right words and choose the right moment, those who hear them may not be ready to benefit from them.

I love the way this passage reminds us of the fragility of true communication. Sometimes we’re so convinced of our eloquence, so proud of our rigorous thinking, that we forget to consider whether the other person is ready, willing or able to hear what we are saying.

I was talking with some friends about the challenges of communication when one admitted that it had been several months since they could remember expressing a particular point clearly and well to someone. Then, rather ruefully, they added that it had been much longer—decades—since they themselves had felt truly heard. Perhaps, in this world of sound bites, broadcasting and social media, we have forgotten the gentle art of listening.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, King James Bible

This quotation, one of my favourites, reminds us that our lives, like the natural world, have their seasons. To me, it also speaks of the patience, determination and perseverance needed to bring something worthwhile to fruition. Wanting something to happen does not necessarily mean that its time has come.

All great things are slow of growth; nay, this is true even of a grape or of a fig.

Epictetus

When we look at nature and follow the slow journey from seed to plant, blossom to fruit, we are reminded that some processes cannot be rushed. It’s interesting that Epictetus mentions grapes and figs: grapevines bear their flowers openly, while the fig’s tiny flowers are hidden within the structure that becomes the fig we eat. Perhaps there is a reminder here that growth is not always visible. Each of us develops in our own way, and much may be happening inwardly long before there is anything to show the world.

Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.

Bahá’u’lláh

Yet patience is only part of the story. There is also a time to act.

Since different plants bear fruit in different ways and at different times, there seems little point in measuring our progress entirely against that of those around us. Each of us has our own capacities, circumstances and purpose. We can learn from others without expecting our lives to follow the same pattern.

But a harvest still depends on planting and tending. We cannot neglect the sowing, leave our plants unwatered through a dry spell, and then expect an abundant crop. So, alongside patience, we need attentiveness: a willingness to recognise an opportunity and the courage to take it before it passes.

Perhaps the challenge is to recognise when to speak and when to listen, when to wait and when to act.