When Powerless, Seek External Help

Xuefeng

May 30, 2021

The tender branches of the rose bushes in front of the guest rooms have grown to a length of two inches, while those by the roadside are just starting to sprout. Why? I had always thought it was due to temperature; the rose bushes in front of the guest rooms are sheltered from the wind, resulting in slightly higher temperatures, while those by the roadside are constantly exposed to the wind, leading to lower temperatures.

This morning, when I finally got around to clearing the weeds next to the roadside rose bushes, I realized it should have been done earlier. As I cleared the weeds, I discovered that their roots had deeply penetrated the rose bushes, particularly a type of weed resembling alfalfa, which had grown vigorously, with roots extending more than three inches and a well-developed root system. Along with other grasses, they not only tightly wrapped around the rose bushes but also made the soil extremely compact and impermeable. It turns out that the weak growth of the roadside rose bushes was mainly caused by the weeds, not the temperature.

I cleared the weeds around the rose bushes in front of the guest rooms more than twenty days ago and loosened the soil, resulting in vigorous growth. However, due to the failure to timely clear the weeds, the roadside rose bushes lacked energy, and their growth was weak. While clearing the weeds around the rose bushes, I realized a truth: if there is no powerful external force to help the rose bushes remove the weeds competing for energy, although the rose bushes will not die, their growth will definitely be weak, and they probably won't even produce a few bright flowers.

The revelation is: "When powerless, seek external help."

Many people in the world are like the rose bushes by the roadside, trapped in difficulties. Without the intervention and assistance of external forces, they will never be able to escape their predicament. The outcome is like that of the six-member Yang Gailan family who committed suicide. Even though many people continue to struggle to survive in difficult circumstances, they live without dignity, confidence, hope, or joy.

So, where does external help come from?

There are many factors that constitute external help, but the most fundamental and effective one is the Greatest Creator. For example, for the rose bushes I nurture, the only reliable external help is me because I am the one nurturing and caring for them. Similarly, as human beings are created by the Greatest Creator, the Greatest Creator is looking after them. They rely on the Greatest Creator, their ancestor, just as the rose bushes can only rely on me, their caretaker.

When we find ourselves in difficulties, instead of praying for other external forces to help us overcome them, we should rely on the Greatest Creator. Whether the Greatest Creator sends a small boat, a speedboat, an airplane, or mobilizes other more powerful people or factors to help us out of difficulties, it is all part of the arrangement of the Tao.