I watched a beautiful, tall, old, tree today; bending with
the wind. I noticed that when the powerfully angry gusts came along, some of
the branches lifted Heavenwards. . their leaves turned upward shimmering with
light as they swayed with the rhythm of the wind.
Other branches seemed to desperately bend towards the earth, clawing at
the ground; their leaves showing no light; but quaking violently as they tried
to fight against the incredible ferocity of the wind.
It struck me how we are each like the branches of that tree. When the
winds of trials come, do we turn our faces, our thoughts, our minds, and our hearts
Heavenward . . . and as a result sway lightly with the wind?
Or do we grasp desperately towards the world, rejecting the light, and
trying in vain to hold onto the wisdom and strength of ourselves and the world;
only to be violently shaken in our trials?