Houseplants are common, but I recently realized I've owned this one since 1991... it has been around for more than half my life!
I discovered it left on the shelves at my (then) new office in an icecream pail, and wanting my space to look more professional I transplanted it to a nicer pot that my mother had stored in her basement. When I left that job a couple years later, the plant came along and has been with me since.
Though we begin things with good intentions, we never know what will last. "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." (Ecclesiastes 11:6)
Sometimes the path to follow will seem clear to us, especially if we invite God to help with our decisions: "This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." (Isaiah 48:17)
At other times it's hard to discern the best way forward, but this should not stop us from trying. "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." (Proverbs 16:9) and "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21). So even if our plans happen to point us in the wrong direction, the Lord will be involved in the outcome. For Christians, this can reassure us that we will never stray far off if we stay in relationship with God. For people who don't want His involvement, it may be a more cautionary verse - but still applies.
There is yet another thing we can do to make our plans more successful: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."(Proverbs 15:22). So it is wise to run our ideas past someone else before we proceed with them.
In summary, I never imagined this plant would outlast the job I had, the career I spent years pursuing, and the business I worked for back then. Nor did I ever think I would be writing about it years later. It seems the Lord had quite different purposes in mind for me than I planned for. So imagine a good future, talk to others and pray about it, and then begin to move forward. The Lord will either establish your steps, or intervene and redirect you in a new direction if that is what's best.
* All references from the NIV
