Seasons Change .......

As King Solomon wrote in his book Ecclesiastes that there are times for everything, no one could ever deny that.  I think of these when I look around and see how seasons change. People too!

As of today, may I have a privilege to share with you a little piece of land and what I mean by seasons change.  Come now, let's take a little tour to the back road near our neighborhood in Chiang Rai, Thailand.  

Behold!  

Rice fields with seed panicles heads that are starting to turn as they ripen and mature.

And just shift your gaze a tiny bit to the side of the field, can you see how a delicate pumpkin vine is thriving?  With blooming foliage, and ..........

..... a young fruit in the making, ..

a flower forming a fruit,

and ... a promising green, healthy looking pumpkin.

Yes, there have to be somebody behind the scene of these all.  It is a no wonder that these are fruits from busy hands and backbreaking work of farmers.

They are early risers and right at work every morning, regardless of how a day would turn out to be.

Their humble homes scatter nearby.

But, the owners are never in sight any time we pass by.  They are always at work ... tending the fields and more ...

Now, look at this .... a bamboo bridge leading to the house. Aren't you amazed at how industrious and genius these farmers are with everything available and their hands could get to? 

And how about the architectural design!  Isn't this a nice looking house?  Imagine a busy poor farmer building this away without any house plan on hand at all!  

Let's move on ....... See the young ladies down the path?  Notice how they dress?  It's kind of different from local farmers we met earlier.  Their pants are unique and a shoulder bag has a bright color that suggest that they must be of a hill-tribe people in our northern region.  Let's follow them on.

There .... a row of big shady trees, their destination and a small group of people.  They all are squatting down on the ground doing just something.

Upon approaching .... it is plain that these people are searching for some small precious little things on the ground.  What!  .... Why! ...

And, how in the world does this lady have to cover herself up so much that only her eyes show? Is what she is encountering that dangerous?  If so, why would she such freely touch the elements?  Aren't they just tiny sapling after all? Is it possible that she'd just like to protect her skin from the soon coming fierce sunshine?

Here is the man!  He reveals that the group has been sent over to collect the young saplings of 'Mah Kiang.' 

Mah Kiang!  If this sounds very foreign to you, please be alarmed.  You are not alone in this, for it surely does me as much too.  What is it?  Let hear it out from the man.  

Listen, he speaks beautiful northern dialect and is so willing to explain that they are the big trees standing grand just behind us!!!

Oh, I see!  Now I know what these strong and beautiful trees are.  IngSong and I used to wonder what kind they were when we rode by during the rainy season.  We found the path  covered with their dark berry-like fruits that have been seedling and eventually become available for the gang now. Yet, whatever they want these for?

Again, the man shares that not only Mah Kiang could be found only in the far north of our country but also its strikingly sour fruits have become a rich and rare source for a  new popular juice. The National Park officers in from quite a way sent them over to search for the saplings that they could re-forest in the coming rainy season.

(Note: Mah Kiang is a Thai name, you could them up under this scientific name: Cleistocalyx nervosum  var. paniala, or visit this blog for further information,  http://dokmaidogma.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/confusing-thai-fruits/.)  

How very little could I ever imagine that these trees are bearing such precious fruits!  No wonder everything is laid aside and everyone is absolutely determined to gather each and every tiny sapling they could possibly find.

This lady even opts to water the ground, in order to make the soil moistened up and save the little delicate saplings from being hurt by all means.

Today, this man, a father to the younger girls and a husband to an older lady, brings his family almost 100 kilometer away home to gather the saplings for the National Park.  Who knows where will he bring his family next rainy season when the saplings are ready to be planted?

Yes, as seasons change, so do men .... for there is time for everything... yes, indeed!

Ecclesiastes 3

Living Bible (TLB)

3 There is a right time for everything:

² A time to be born;
A time to die;
A time to plant;
A time to harvest;
³ A time to kill;
A time to heal;
A time to destroy;
A time to rebuild;
⁴ A time to cry;
A time to laugh;
A time to grieve;
A time to dance;
⁵ A time for scattering stones;
A time for gathering stones;
A time to hug;
A time not to hug;
⁶ A time to find;
A time to lose;
A time for keeping;
A time for throwing away;
⁷ A time to tear;
A time to repair;
A time to be quiet;
A time to speak up;
⁸ A time for loving;
A time for hating;
A time for war;
A time for peace.