I began this post several weeks ago, which now seems like years.
Since then, many events have occurred in my life and the lives of my most beloved of souls. The thoughts I was having seem even more timely now. Perhaps my soul was preparing itself . . . in any event, I feel led to make these observations on TREES.
Right View: A view as seen along the Natchez Trace in Rural Tennessee. Taken May, 2009.
If I could choose to be any kind of tree, it would be a POPLAR. Poplar trees have the added bonus of filtering toxins from the soil/ground water. I would love to be considered a filter - to take in the poison and give out only cleansed energy.
From my early days as a barefooted, country girl growing up in rural Illinois and Indiana, trees have framed my life. From the giant, canopy of grandpa's oak tree on the Indiana farm to the Ginkgo Trees that grew across the street, I have been drawn to the strength and beauty they provide.
What intrigues me most about trees is that they internally and externally exhibit their key characteristic of RESILIENCE - which if you follow me at all, you will know is my eternal quest to grasp.
Read More| re·sil·ience [ ri zílly?nss ] or re·sil·ien·cy [ ri zílly?nssee ] |
| noun |
| Definition: |
| 1. speedy recovery from problems: the ability to recover quickly from setbacks |
| 2. elasticity: the ability of matter to spring back quickly into shape after being bent, stretched, or deformed
It is amazing to me that a view of the tree's internal rings reveal it's entire biography - the year it was born, the travail of injury, the years of abundance and nurture. I am amazed at the individuality of each scar.
Not only the individuality, but the fact that these scars are the cause of so much beauty and the site of resilience and self-healing. In a way, these trees are my 'heroes' and nature is where I can instantly receive the succor and peace from everyday challenges. It is like an instant realignment of internal and external health. See, echophsycology posting, http://sherfickart.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/essay-eco-psych.html (Eco-psychology and Inner-World Balance) as well as a previous posting http://sherfickart.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/natures-gifts.html (Nature's Gifts)
Along the Natchez Trace I became lost. Lost, literally, but emotionally as well. This sojourn provided time to dwell in the bucolic world. I saw the way nature ate away at the attempted confinement of man. The trees were devouring the very man-made structures used to tame them.
As time passed, the con-finements were devoured, but the fact of them was left behind - the trees had continued to grow about the chains of man and left behind the visualization of their conquering spirits.
I, too, seek to be triumphant and to devour my oppression and create a beautiful outcome. Just like these trees, I hope to heal and transform my internal and external scars into marks of strength.
So, once again, my ruminations return to WHAT REMAINS? What we keep and why?
What will my story say at the end?
To learn more about the Life of a Tree, visit
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