Outside my kitchen window stands one of the most beautiful maple trees I have ever seen. It stands tall and reveals a beautiful shape when in full bloom. I often stand under it and just look up. As I stood waiting for my coffee to brew this morning, I gazed out the window at the maple which is now bare. It’s one of the last trees on my property to change color. It’s such a huge tree that the leaves begin to change sporadically throughout – it doesn’t change all at once. Just when I start noticing the upper part displaying a beautiful fiery orange into yellow, it seems that the tree loses all its leaves. So as I stood there this morning, I thought “one of my favorite trees – too bad I don’t get to enjoy it in all it’s autumn splendor.” I began to think maybe my neighbors get a better view from afar. Then it hit me, sometimes we tend to miss what’s right under our noses, what’s closest to us, because we’re so focused on what’s at a distance. In other words, focused on tomorrow – our hopes and dreams and what others possess instead of being in the moment or allowing ourselves to be enough.
What do I mean by all this? So often we search outside ourselves for things we THINK will bring us true happiness: a significant other, a friend, a bad habit, an inanimate object, elaborate vacations, etc. but those things seldom bring us the happiness we seek. Why is that? Because true happiness comes from within, the thing closest to you, the inner recesses of your soul! NO ONE and NOTHING will ever “complete” you because outside sources are unnecessary, you are a child of God, you are already complete! The sad part of all this is that I think most people understand this concept, but refuse to do the, sometimes painful, excavating necessary to stand in their truth. I truly believe that when you begin to excavate, when you begin to do some soul-searching, you will find that you possess, by God’s grace, all it takes to be truly happy.
My beautiful maple tree adds to the beauty of the autumn landscape on the mountain. It’s contribution to the overall beauty of the mountain is magnificent. But one thing we can learn from it is this: it grew into its own BEFORE it became part of the bigger mountain and it continues to stand on its own! I’m so grateful that it’s mine!
I have a plaque on my bedroom wall which reads: Lessons from a tree: Reach for the sky, Remember your roots, and Be content with your natural beauty. I would translate that to mean turn to God, remember you are a child of God and love yourself! Think about that. God bless you!
