Lessons From Bonsai

Ancient Japanese botanists perfected the art of growing bonsai trees in pots. Their goal was to grow miniature trees that resembled the shape, style, dimensions and age that the same type of tree in nature would have. Bonsai is a Japanese term that roughly translates to “tree in a pot.” Merriam-Webster defines this as “a potted plant (such as a tree) dwarfed (as by pruning) and trained to an artistic shape.” These plants can take years or even decades to grow but ultimately create an exquisite impression.

“Bonsai are trees and plants grown in containers in such a way so that they look their most beautiful—even prettier than those growing in the wild. Cultivating bonsai, therefore, is a very artistic hobby as well as a traditional Japanese art,” Web Japan, a website operated by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, states. “It’s also a good illustration of the gentle respect Japanese have for living things and an expression of their sense of what is beautiful. It’s much more involved than growing potted flowers, and requires a much bigger commitment—physically and emotionally.”

The intricate, delicate beauty of bonsai trees does not happen by accident. Bonsai artists undergo many years of intense training to learn and master this craft. Growing their plants and shaping them to perfection requires, among other elements, planning, practice and patience.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a bonsai tree? These specimens, along with everything else God created in the natural world, were made to be “very good” (Gen. 1:31). But you were also “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God (Psa. 139:14). And, similar to how a tree must be trimmed and crafted to become a beautiful bonsai, you will only reach your full potential in life by being guided and worked with. We will continue this comparison and examine the lessons bonsai can teach us.

Parents and Pruning

Think of your parents as bonsai artists. They received you as a precious gift at birth, but this was only the beginning of their stewardship. Since then, they have lovingly raised you, teaching you the knowledge and skills needed for life. In a sense, they were moving your branches in the right direction. They showed a tremendous physical and emotional commitment, to borrow the terms above.

Your mother and father were applying Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This commanded many hours of their time—they diligently taught you “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deut. 6:7).

Just as the bonsai artist envisions what his final product will look like before he raises his tools, your parents carefully planned how to bring you up in God’s Way. While they are not perfect, they are doing their best to ensure you succeed. Their efforts continue today!

You are an active participant in this process—you are not an inanimate object like the classic bonsai. How you conduct yourself will make things easier or harder for your parents. Do you support their efforts? Or do you resist them? Having the right attitude is essential.

Here are some simple ways to assist. Be obedient (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20; I Pet. 5:5). Lend a helping hand in and around the house (Gal. 5:13). This will teach you the way of give (Acts 20:35). Be thankful when your parents teach you—do not tune out what they are saying. Actively listen (Jms. 1:19; Prov. 8:33). Be teachable (Prov. 12:1)—what you learn today, you may need to know tomorrow. Also, be observant (Phil. 2:4).

When young and tender, a bonsai tree is not permitted to grow wild. A gardener must skillfully prune it back to produce new growth and wire its branches to give it shape. This enables the tree to grow lush foliage, beautiful flowers, and sometimes fruit.

Bonsaiempire.com elaborates on the process: “Techniques such as pinching buds, pruning and wiring branches, and carefully restricting but not abandoning fertilizers are used to limit and redirect healthy growth. Most commonly kept under four feet (or about a meter) in height, Bonsai are not genetically dwarfed plants. However, plants with smaller leaves do make these compositions easier to design. In fact, any plant species that has a woody stem or trunk, grows true branches, can be successfully grown in a container to restrict its roots/food storage capability, and has smaller or reducible leaves can be used to create a Bonsai.”

No matter how you started, under your father and mother’s guidance, you can succeed. One of the most vital tools in your parents’ “toolshed” are the pruning scissors they use to lovingly guide and correct you. This can be painful. You, as the figurative bonsai, may not realize that certain “branches”—aspects of your behavior and character—must be removed or redirected for you to be happy in life. At the time, it may not make sense why your parents are leading you in a certain direction. But be of good cheer. You will benefit from their correction more than you realize.

When corrected, take it in stride. Keep control of your emotions. Learn the lesson and move forward, determining to apply it in the future. Avoid outbursts or arguing with your parents—this is unproductive. Imagine how difficult it would be to trim or apply wire to a potted tree if the branches were wildly flailing around and resisting the botanist! It would be impossible for such a tree to become worthy of being featured in a world-class exhibit.

The Ultimate ‘Bonsai Artist’

Your parents are not the only bonsai artists with a critical role in your development. They work with you most directly, but they actually report to an additional absolutely perfect “bonsai artist”—God Almighty!

Jesus Christ explained, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman [land-worker]. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1-2).

The Greek word for “purges” can be defined to prune. When you experience trials, challenges and setbacks in life, realize that this is being guided by God. If you find yourself in such a situation, take time to meditate on what He wants you to learn. Circumstances that may seem insignificant at the time could be part of God’s larger purpose—to prune you into a beautiful tree. Consider writing down your thoughts in a journal so that these lessons do not escape you later.

During trials, study relevant passages in the Bible for help. For example, if you are battling peer pressure, God’s Word gives plain instruction about not following the crowd (Ex. 23:2). Also, talk about your challenges with your parents and brethren in your local congregation. They have been living God’s Way much longer than you and have been through their share of adversity. If you are feeling discouraged because you cannot participate in football games on Friday evenings, they can share their own experiences of missing events and perhaps even losing employment over the Sabbath command.

In short, anytime you are met with adversity, heed Ecclesiastes 7:14 and “consider” the situation you are in.

Old, magnificent bonsai trees that developed fully over decades learned not to bend when under pressure from the elements. They grew strong through many years of affliction and seasons of good weather. As they became older, their trunks became unbendable, and their elongated branches reflected their ability to be permanently shaped and guided.

Prune Yourself

You, a figurative bonsai, hold an enormous advantage over a literal one. In nature, a specimen has no role in its own design and grooming. It is transformed into a bonsai entirely by others. You are different.

If you observe that in a particular area of your life, you must be pruned or trimmed, you can make that adjustment yourself—you do not have to wait for your parents to correct you or for God to try you with a difficult circumstance. As a free moral agent, you can examine your own branches and prune yourself!

Famed bonsai artist Masahiko Kimura wrote this in a letter to a pupil: “Training is of course about acquiring skills, but total apprehension of the spiritual aspect is of the utmost importance. It may be strict, but, if you dedicate yourself fully, it will most certainly be rewarding.”

Through each aspect of the process—as your parents work with you, God guides you, and you work on yourself—you are pursuing your awesome potential. Be sure to “dedicate yourself fully.”

The book of Proverbs states, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (11:30). Although it will take years of figurative pruning, wiring, bending and cutting back, and patience on the part of both you and your parents to produce the wonderful tree they planned—you!—your branches will ultimately grow strong, and you will achieve the exquisite beauty God desires.