Embracing New Beginnings

Springtime is a time to be grounded, a time to allow your energy to awaken and burst forth with renewed energy from the quiet months of winter. Symbolically, the first sign of the budding hopes of spring comes to me when I gaze into the tree branches. To me a tree represents perhaps one of the most intriguing and awesome presentations of this season, and life in general. The sound knowing of their purpose and timing is nothing short of the grand design of balance in nature. There are the perfectly shaped and trimmed branches of some trees that draw our attention up, reminding us to keep reaching as those tall branches stretch to the open sky. Other trees boast unique off-centered crooks of art that draw our attention away towards the rest of the neighboring landscape. In the springtime, all of that new growth exemplifies reminders of budding hope. The new growth reaches out from within and collectively casts a haze of green hope cradled in the branches. These buds then become the lush green foliage of summer. There is a new purpose now, as those leaves provide shade for us. It also shades the birds so they can nest and sing out the praises of summer. As I walk by on a summer day, the branches and leaves will wave gently to me as those subtle gentle breezes pass through. I admire the way the tree stays deeply rooted and grounded especially during the strong winds and pelleting rain. I aspire to bend and sway as those branches do, anchored in my strength and knowing.

Finally, the leaves boast their brilliant, showy colors of fall. This is the grand finale of those springtime buds, and summer protection that the tree has provided for us. They lovingly release those leaves to nourish the ground around them.

Soon, tufted snow will adorn those empty branches in the winter as the tree waits patiently, taking its cues from this season so it is ready to begin this beautiful cycle all over again at the winters end.

Take some time this spring to actually observe this change, ground yourself in the season, and then continue to grow in the changes that naturally follow and flourish.

...always be the love you are called to be