As he was contemplating why he should even consider
any of this information from a serious point, he began to feel
the tree that he was leaning against, vibrate and he knew that
he was about to be exposed to more of the same. The tree was a
large black cherry tree, with many insights to share. What he
was about to perceive would begin to help him realize the truth
a little more. "You are free to make choices and to move
about on your journey and yet you are more handicapped than what
I am as I am rooted to one spot on my journey in this realm. Once
I am rooted I can not move and change what I am doing, but even
under this situation I have an affect on many different things
and everything about me has an affect upon me. The some total
of this interaction has an over all effect on my time here at
this spot. If you can begin to understand how I as a tree play
such an important role on everything about me, then you can better
see how you, who has the ability to move and make more choices
will have an affect on all things in which you are sharing this
realm. I am but a simple cherry tree. My main goal is to provide
fruit which will continue my species and provide food for many
different animals. As a tree I provide much more than this and
I have an effect upon each and every thing that is in my area.
If I were to count the number of insects that use me for their
abode, I would be forever lost in the task. If you scan my branches
you will find many nest of different animal and bird life that
uses my frame for protection and support. If you spend just one
year with me you could see the number of animals which feed upon
my fruit and leaves and some on my bark. In the fall of each year
I give up my leaves to provide mulch and food for other plants.
As my branches are broken or fall from disease I provide heat
for man and structural supports for other animal to build their
homes. The effect that I have upon the quality of the air as my
life cycle brings on new growth of leaves is difficult to measure.
The shade that I provide for relieve from the heat for many animals
including man can not be discounted. The beautify that I add to
the landscape is often over looked. I am but a tree and I give
so much in a positive way to all that is about me. Think how much
more you can affect all that is around you as you choose where
you wish to live. Even after I have given up my growth cycle and
I am no longer a living plant, I still have a tremendous affect
upon mankind. My trunk and branches are cut up and used for building
homes and furniture. Even in this facet of my time all that has
happen to me is scrutinized and will determine how I will be used.
The time that I grew and what happen to me can be seen clearly
in my annual rings of growth. If I had a good year these rings
will be wide and the grain will be straight. If I had a year when
there was little water I will have a small ring for that year.
If I had a year that I faced a disease the ring might be off color
or spongy. All that I went through will determine how I will be
used afterward and this will affect how I will be remembered.
Is this not true with you also? If I as a tree can have such an
effect and can be scrutinized in such easy fashion, think how
much more of an effect you will have with the many choices that
you are given. Why is it that you feel that you can not make a
difference when everything that happens has an effect on everything
else? There is nothing that happens to me as a tree that is not
recorded in some way on my growth and therefore remains for the
remainder of my life and even beyond to affect all else that happens
around me. If this is true for a tree, think how much more the
sum total of what happens in your life is recorded upon your growth
and will affect all that is around you. One difference in your
life is that you can chose to make what happens a positive experience.
IF this is going to have an effect upon the rest of your life,
then why would you choose to have anything but a positive experience?
It is for this reason that even this day that you have chosen
to come to this spot to make a change will bring about a change
in your own life in a positive way. What you need is to make your
choices be structured with form and direction. You only need to
look at my structure as a simple tree to be able to understand
what I am saying. If you will but look at how I grow you will
see a simple but yet complex pattern that is necessary for everything.
First I am rooted to this spot. This is from where I get my nourishment.
From my roots are formed a trunk that is at the center of the
rest of my structure. From this center I will branch out in many
different directions with one very important aspect to remember.
Even as I branch out in different directions, I always do so that
I am growing toward the light. In nature you will find that all
growth is toward the light. Remember this in your own life and
your growth will be much greater. If in the process of branching
out, one of my branches becomes damaged, then I must give up that
branch so that it does not hinder the growth of my other branches.
In time the void that is created from giving up that branch will
be filled in as my branches continue to reach in many directions
as they grow toward the light. If you can create the same form
in your life you can not help but grow and have a positive effect
on everything around you. It is in choosing to make positive our
experiences that we can not help but make a difference. This difference
will not be because of a one large accomplishment but rather the
sum total of all the small unspoken positive things that you do.
If you can begin to wipe away the know it all smog that clouds
your eyes, you will begin to see truth and understand how great
a difference you can make. Remember that if I as a tree can make
a difference to so many things, think how much more you can accomplish.
It is your choice. Most of everything that happens with you is
determined by your choices. I do not have that option. Make the
sum total of what happens in your life positive and your affect
upon all else will also be positive. "
Return to Contents
