The

Parable of
BAMBOO
Once upon a
time…

in the heart of
the Eastern
Kingdom lay a
beautiful
garden.
And there in
the cool of the
day was the
Master of the
garden, who
went for a
walk.
Of all the dwellers of the garden, the
most beautiful and beloved was a
gracious and noble Bamboo.
Year after year Bamboo grew yet
more beautiful and gracious. He was
conscious of his Master’s love and
watchful delight. Yet he was modest
Often when wind came
to revel in the garden…

He would
lead the Bamboo would
great throw aside his
dance of dignity. He
the would dance
garden and sway
which merrily, tossing
most and swaying
delighted and leaping and
his bowing in
Master’s joyous abandon.
One Day…

The Master himself

drew near to
contemplate his
Bamboo. With eyes of
curious expectancy,
Bamboo bowed his
great head to the
The Master Spoke…

“Bamboo,
Bamboo…
I would use you.”
Bamboo
said,
“Master, I am
ready, use
me as you
“Bamboo,”
want.”
the Master’s
voice was
grave,
“I would be
obliged to
take you and
cut you
A trembling of great horror shook
Bamboo.

“Cut ... me ... down? Me, whom You,

Master, have made the most
beautiful in all of Your garden? To
cut me down? Ah, not that! Not
that! Use me for Your joy, O Master,
“Beloved
Bamboo,”
the Master’s
voice grew
graver still,
“if I do not cut
you down, then I
can not use
you.”
 The garden
grew still.
Wind held his
breath.
Bamboo
slowly bent
his proud and
glorious head.

There came a whisper.

Bamboo replied
“Master, if You cannot use
me unless You cut me
down… Then do Your will
and cut.”

“Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, I would cut

your leaves and branches from you
“Master, Master,
spare me!
Cut me down
and lay my
beauty in the
dust, but would
You take from
me my leaves
and branches
also?”
“ Bamboo,
alas!
If I do not cut
them away, I
The Sun hid his face.

A listening butterfly
glided fearfully away.

Bamboo shivered in
terrible expectancy,
whispering low,
“Master… cut
away.”
“Bamboo,
Bamboo
“I would
divide you in
two and cut
out your
heart, …
“for if I do not
cut so, I
cannot use
you.”
“Master,
Master,
…then cut and
divide.”
So did the
Master of
the garden
take
Bamboo and
cut him
down and
hack off his
branches
and strip off
his leaves
and divide
him in two
…
and cut out his
heart.
Lifting him gently, he carried him to
where there was a spring of fresh,
sparkling water in the midst of
Master’s dry fields.
Then putting
down one end
of Bamboo in
the spring,
and the other
end into the
water channel
in his field, the
Master laid
down gently The spring
his beloved sang
Bamboo.
The clear sparkling water raced joyously down
the channel of Bamboo’s torn body into the
waiting fields.
Then the rice was
planted and the
days went by.
The shoots grew.
The harvest
came.
In that day was Bamboo, —
once so glorious in his
stately beauty — yet more
glorious in his brokenness
and humility.
For in his beauty he was life
abundant. But in his
broken-ness he became a
channel of abundant life to
his Master’s world!
“And when He had called the people unto
Him with His disciples also, He said unto
For
them,whosoever will save his life shall lose
it; but whosoever shall lose his life for
My sake and the Gospel’s, the same
shall save it.will come after Me, let him
‘Whosoever
deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me.shall it profit a man, if he shall
For what
gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul?’“
(Mark 8:34-36).

--Author Unknown Copyright (c) 2000 by The Family international.

The Master
wants to use
you too!
Let Him into
your heart!

Just tell Him:

“Dear Jesus!
I want to be used by you!
Come into my heart &
change me, make me a
blessing to many. Give
me eternal life!
I pray in Jesus Name,
amen! PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHERS
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