An ode to trees
Image with gratitude to Bianca Mentil from Pixabay
The Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh was once asked by a lady struggling with doubt. " How do I know I am strong enough?"
He replied
"If a tree is not a tree we are all in trouble"
Image with gratitude to RegalShave from Pixabay
I love trees, but I notice I have a habit when walking in nature of looking for the things that move - the squirrels and the deer, actually any animals or birds at all really. And I sometimes forget to see the extraordinary beauty of the trees.
"Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky."
― Kahlil Gebran
Image with gratitude to Faye Cornish at Unsplash
I think if trees had legs and were a bit more difficult to find everyone would be out tree spotting. In awe of their shapes, the bark sometimes rough and knobbly sometimes straight - remarkably sometimes both on the same tree. Some with intricate colours, others with what appears to be writing or eyes on the trunk. And the shapes of the branches so beautiful. They can look dead in winter and then bud and bloom and burst into life.
Image with gratitude to Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
When I was young I would always draw a tree the same way. But they are not like deer, each one is unique with its own story and beauty (sorry deer, I am sure you are too).
Image with gratitude to Didi Kuhnobert from Pixabay
And when I think of trees I remember all the lessons they have taught me over the years of contemplation on retreats.
When you look at a massive tree it is almost unimaginable that they come from a tiny seed or nut. But they don't let their initial smallness limit their potential. They know how to grow, if you cut them they just keep going. If they hit a block they grow round it. Patiently, steadily, persistently.
Image with gratitude to Mabel Amber, still incognito... from Pixabay
In adverse conditions they still find a way.
They know how to let go of the old in Autumn. To shed their leaves and rest for the winter. They know to wait for the right conditions for growth. They don’t push themselves when they need to rest.
Image with gratitude to Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
They are incredibly generous and abundant. They give thousands of fruit or nuts to sustain life. They provide shelter for all sorts of life. And even when they die they keep giving as warmth, as beauty and shelter in our homes and environment.
They know how to share.
Image with gratitude to Johannes Plenio from Pixabay
They don't complain about the weather or the animals and insects who make holes in them and survive from them. They are like a mother to a whole host of creatures.
They are solid and rooted and yet they flex with the wind. Strong grounded and flexible.
Image with gratitude to Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
I hope one day I will realise that I am really rather like a tree. And I hope you do too!❤️
And if you’d like more reasons to go out tree gazing, science is finding that trees are good for our health and happiness.
