Lessons From A Durian
The durian season is once again upon us. Roadside stalls selling Musang Kings and D24s can be seen in many towns and neighbourhoods. But despite the big divide between lovers and haters of the King of Fruits, one thing is certain: the durian is an annual season that many Malaysians look forward to, and in these challenging times, is a small pleasure to delight in.
Pandemic or no pandemic (and barring a climate catastrophe), durian seeds continue to grow, flowers pollinate and the trees yield their fruits – all in nature’s timing and season. From this we can learn one thing: our creator God is a constant God. He holds the world together, ensuring that the earth rotates, the sun rises and sets daily, and the seasons come and go – with certainty – in its natural rhythm.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters,” declares Psalm 24:1-2. How wonderful to know that the earth was fashioned by our Creator God!
The certainty of the durians growing during its seasons helps us to learn another lesson from it; being resilient in all times. With the pandemic raging on, Malaysia locked down again and children back to home learning, resilience in God can help us to adapt, cope and bounce back from hardship.
>>READ: What leads to human resilience? (YMI)
>>BUY: ‘Resilient’ by Sheridan Voysey (Discovery House Distributors)
Duri – the Malay word for thorns – is where the durian gets its name. Armoured with sharp thorns, it can kill a person if dropped from a great height. But inside, its flesh is a soft, creamy custard, with an aroma that is impossible to ignore. Likewise, as Christians, we could perhaps learn from the durian to:
- Put on the full armour of God in order to stand against the enemy and be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-11)
- Cultivate a soft and teachable heart, one made out of flesh and not stones (Ezekiel 36:26)
- Spread the pleasing aroma of Christ to those around us (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)
It’s amazing what this delightful (or dreaded) fruit can teach us about life. Love it or hate it, its lessons for us are surprisingly significant as we brace for another thorny year ahead.
About the Author
Wan Phing Lim is a contributor to Our Daily Bread Ministries Malaysia. Born and raised in Penang, she studied Politics before turning to a career in writing. She loves coffee, books and films.
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