In autumn last year, I experienced a moment of pure peace while walking my dog. At the time I was feeling heartsick for a simpler life. I wanted a stronger connection to God and nature. I wanted to love myself and others better. I started praying to shift my thoughts from the chaos and complexity of this world. I wanted my racing and tangled mind to experience peace. A moment later, I looked up and saw a colorful fall tree and heard, “Just as this tree cycles through life, so do you.” That was it. For one split-second, I experienced pure peace. I have lived 43 years and not truly grasped, until now, the natural and purposeful power of cycles for humankind. For myself. At that moment, I was suddenly freed from all expectations and reminded that all creation, including humankind, is cyclical. My season of hardship is momentary and causes me to rest and reflect, something I need. I began to think deeply about trees after that. More specifically, color-changing, leaf-dropping, and deciduous trees. While strange, I believed greater simplicity in my life lay beneath my understanding of theirs. There are three primary lessons I’ve learned. Three characteristics I will try to emulate in my own life.
Where am i rooted?A tree’s root system is not complex. As the tree grows and matures above ground, so do the roots underground. Tree roots run as deep and wide as needed to anchor the tree. Tree roots also draw in nutrients and water from the soil. Together, these three life-giving elements enable trees to fulfill their purpose: to give life to others. Without a healthy root system, trees will wither and die. Surprisingly, even in death they keep giving. Where am I rooted? This past year has been a challenge. I have rooted myself in sorrow and self-pity. I have tried to live on superficial nutrients: approval from others, unhealthy food, and isolation. I’ve been battling depression, hunting for joy, and searching for a greater sense of purpose. Hebrews 6:19-20 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” It is easy to forget that Christ has already experienced all we experience. There is no sense of empathy greater than that which He offers. I long for a firm and secure anchor in Him. Without it, my life will lack purpose and my soul connection. Living in a world with constant change means any worldly anchor we cling to can disappear in a moment. Instead, I will anchor myself to an unchanging and ever-present God. As I mature, my roots will deepen and widen. Growing in Him will bring healing, restoration, and renewed strength. Being deeply and firmly rooted in the Lord will insight a grander impact than I could ever imagine. What is my purpose?Trees live out their purpose every moment without doubt, insecurity, fear, or heartache. They never waiver, even when they lay dormant through the winter months. In fact, dormancy is a necessity for trees to thrive. Without a season of rest, they are vulnerable. However, dormancy, like every other stage in their annual cycle is deciduous; temporary! Deciduous means to last only a short time, to drop a part that is no longer needed. Deciduous trees are in a constant cycle: dormancy, new growth, and fruit-bearing. Regardless of the stage, they always give life. Even when dormant, their branches and roots provide shelter. Their season of new growth provides nourishment to other animals, including humans. In the autumn, their beauty is a marvel as fallen leaves nourish the soil beneath them. What sense of purpose could be easier to emulate than that of a tree? I want to be so connected to my maker that I never waiver in my sense of purpose, no matter what is going on around me or happening to me. I want to embrace each season life offers with the belief that it will bring forth new life, even if I lack hope. I want to recognize and accept all seasons of rest. Yielding to those seasons will restore, strengthen, and heal me. I want to remember my life is also temporary, along with every season I live through. Most of all, I want to love and care for myself enough to also fulfill my purpose as a life-giver. what is my impact?The life span of healthy deciduous trees can range from 0 to 500 years. On average, a mature leafy tree produces 260 pounds of oxygen annually, enough for ten people to inhale. If it survives 100 years it will give life to 1000 people. A full-grown tree will also contribute to the health and longevity of our planet by absorbing nearly one tonne of carbon dioxide in this same 100-year period. Nuts, seeds, and sap provide sustenance for tiny critters and humans. Fruit trees will average 150-300 pounds of fruit a year. Trees provide shelter to thousands of animals in their lifetime. Even in death, trees offer refuge and solace for hundreds of species. The impact of a mature, healthy tree seems unmatched! Our impact can be even grander. We will not live as long as a tree. But our mobile bodies and complex minds provide power to transform life. While trees are living out their purpose to sustain life, humans have the ability to change it. Additionally, without human impact, even trees would suffer. Through human intervention, trees are pruned to spark new growth, moved to more hospitable environments, protected from disease, or enhanced to create something new. The power of transformation we wield can also damage the life of a tree and our planet. We have seen this first hand. This brings me to the final lesson: we will ALL impact this world. Transformation within us and around us is inevitable. However, we determine whether our impact is positive or negative. A positive impact will give life. A negative impact will bring death. Final thoughtsI've never been in awe trees, but there's a first time for everything. The perspective gained while reflecting on the life of a tree has been refreshing. While I have a greater appreciation for the fruit, shelter, and oxygen trees provide. The innate and unwavering ability trees have to impact the world, brings great joy. It's proof such a feat is possible! Trees naturally give life. Their impact is always positive, even in death. A characteristic I can only aspire to achieve. As I strive to do the same, I will remember my greatest impact will come when I'm:
Your TurnMy life of wisdom and folly is like yours! Humans are fallible. However, our ability to transform means every moment presents an opportunity for change.
Where will you anchor yourself this year? How will you care for yourself and give life to others?
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AuthorLife is complicated! Complexities are inescapable. Sadly, we make it harder on ourselves than it has to be. We are our own worst enemies. I am a nonprofit Founder & CEO, a mother, wife, avid volunteer, and so much more. I am a visionary, creative expert, and I LOVE learning. I strive for perfection that is non-existent, want to be all things for all people (which is impossible) and carry peace with me wherever I go. This, my friends, is exhausting! Aside from the heightened complications I provide myself, endless choices, opportunities, and change heighten the complexity around me. My Search for Simplicity in 2023 is an authentic pursuit of three specific criteria: my relationship with God, my relationship with myself, and my impact on this world. This blog will be a conduit for me to share my personal journey and the tools & resources I build to support it. I invite you to take part in this journey with me. To access all our tools and resources as they are developed, follow our Facebook Page. Alternatively, you can pop on the site week-to-week for new content. Finally, I am not in this space alone. If you are ready to simplify your life as well, let's connect! ArchivesCategories
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