Before You Clear the Bush: The Wisdom of Building from the Inside Out
There is an African proverb that offers a profound lesson for life and decision-making: “Don’t clear the bush around your house if you still don’t have a toilet.”
At its core, this saying warns us against prioritizing external appearances over internal necessities. It’s a vivid metaphor for the human tendency to make sweeping, emotional changes in pursuit of a superficial sense of order, while neglecting the foundational structures required for true and lasting stability.
So often, the decisions that derail lives are made in the heat of emotion—a sudden surge of anger, a flush of pride, or a moment of impatient desire. We “clear the bush” to make our external situation look controlled, without ensuring we have the essential “toilet” in place: the substance, the plan, the character, or the relationship required to sustain us.
Consider the person who, in a moment of workplace frustration, resigns impulsively to start a business, only to realize they lacked the crucial foundation for entrepreneurship. Or the individual who walks away from a relationship during a season of conflict, believing they can do without the other, and later recognizes they discarded something irreplaceable. In both cases, the bush was cleared, but the vital, internal structure was missing.
This proverb calls us to a higher standard of discernment. Before any major decision, we must pause and ask ourselves: Am I acting to satisfy a temporary emotion, or to address a lasting reality?
Scripture supports this call to patient, foundational wisdom. Proverbs 14:29 (NIV) advises, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Patience allows us to look beyond the immediate, emotional urge to “clear the bush.” It grants us the understanding to build what is necessary first—to construct the “toilet” of wisdom, preparation, and prayer—before we take drastic external action.
Let us move forward with intention. Give yourself the gift of time before making pivotal choices. Anchor your decisions not in the miasma of fleeting feelings, but in the solid ground of reality, preparation, and faith. Build your inner foundation so strong that when you finally step out to clear the bush, you do so from a place of unshakable strength, ready to thrive and not merely survive.
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