A student was walking with an older Zen Master, in the zen garden. Feeling a bit insecure about what life had in store for him, he ask the Zen Master for some advice. “When will I know my destiny? When will I know what life has in store for me?” The student asked.

The Zen Master walked up to a rosebush and handed the young student a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young student looked in disbelief at the Master and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know what was in store for his life. But because of his great respect for the Zen Master, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact…

It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do. The student then said, “I haven’t the wisdom to unfold this rose before its time.”

The older Zen Master replied; “Exactly, If you try and unfold this rose before its time, you will destroy it’s beauty and its purpose. Just as time unfolds the rose, time will unfold your destiny, your inner beauty and your purpose.”

“Your wisdom shines like the beauty of a rose that has blossomed,” The student said. “I am but a rosebud that has yet to open.” The Zen master smiled, knowing that the student had learned the lesson well.

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(moral: You can’t go from 18 to 80, life has to unfold as time permits. Our lives, destiny and fates will unfold like that of a rose. Every rose may be beautiful yet every rose is different and unfolds at different times, we must be patient and allow our time, life and destiny to unfold on its own )

may your day un-fold as graciously as a rose