An original Short Story by Lynn Caldwell, Guest Contributor
Sometimes it’s not just a walk in the park.
Lately, I have missed my walks in the park due to the weather and the walking paths partially being submerged under water, “Turn Around Don’t Drown” or ruin your tennis shoes!!
Today I was met with beautiful sunshine and a nice breeze. I did notice that some of the trees were flourishing with bright green leaves and some were changing into their fall colors of yellows, golds and reds. As I walked , I noticed the breeze blowing some of the leaves to the ground but others were determined to stay and some just fell on their own with no breeze just deciding that it was time. There were some trees that appeared bare and perhaps were suffering from disease. I have posted often, metaphorically, about the likeness of trees to people and today the trees especially spoke to me about the time of the year to let go of those who are ill and ready to fall from their strong branches.
Years ago I had a tree in my back yard and it appeared diseased. It was a grand old oak and I loved it and did not want to lose it. I called a specialist to come and access my tree and was told it needed to be cut down due to disease that could not be treated. I just couldn’t bring myself to cut the majestic tree down so I just left it there and the hollow spot in the tree eventually closed completely up on its own with no treatment. The branches still grew and the leaves still flourished and the tree is still absolutely beautiful and healthy some 20 years later. I guess it healed itself as I did nothing to treat it other that visit it often and pray that it not die.
I don’t know what the future will hold for the diseased trees but I guess they will either meet the fate that we all will eventually meet and die or they will heal themselves and flourish.
We are so much like trees and can either heal ourselves or be a result of what nature has in store for us.
I know that fall is a time of change.
To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
