The Wisdom of Growth and the Courage to Hope: The Power of a Tiny Seed
“BWA PI WO DI LI WÈ LWEN,
GRENN PWOMENNEN DI LI WÈ PI LWEN”
THE TALLEST TREE SAYS IT SEES FAR, BUT THE TRAVELING SEED SAYS IT SEES EVEN FURTHER”
In the rich fabric of Haitian culture, proverbs are more than wise sayings—they are vessels of resilience, passed down like heirlooms, carrying strength, humor, and hard-earned truths. One such proverb has been on my heart lately:
“Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen,” which translates to, “The tallest tree says it sees far, but the seed that travels says it sees even further.”
It’s a beautiful reminder that while standing tall is admirable, the seed that dares to travel—light, vulnerable, and full of possibility—sees the world in ways the tree never can.
And these days, many of us feel more like the seed than the tree.
Right now, in Haiti, families are having to flee their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many live in fear, unsure of what tomorrow will bring. Children—who should be learning, playing, dreaming—are out of school. Parents are lying awake at night, wondering how they’ll feed their families, praying that their loved ones far away are safe, or perhaps mourning the fact that they may never see them again.
It’s hard to talk about hope in times like these. It feels fragile—like a whisper in a storm. But perhaps that’s why this little proverb means so much right now. Because even the tiniest seed, when carried by the wind, still holds the power to take root and grow.
Even when everything feels uncertain…
Even when the weight of the world feels too much…
Even when we’re overwhelmed, lost, or anxious about the rising sun of a new day after a sleepless night…
We carry the potential to bloom again.
So this is not a message of blind optimism. It’s a quiet offering—a soft place to land in a world that feels harsh. It’s a reminder that, like seeds, we may feel buried, but we are not broken. We are in a moment of becoming.
To all who are hurting, displaced, fearful, or weary: you are not alone. Your courage, your love, your perseverance in these uncertain days are acts of hope. Acts of growth. Tiny roots reaching for something better.
Let us hold on to the wisdom of the tree, yes—but let us never forget the seed. Because its journey may be uncertain, but its power is undeniable.