R is for "Roots, Reaching and Reality"

Reaching for Reality or Inspiration?

Today I read a reflection on Facebook that talked about being rooted in reality but reaching-like a tree.

I love trees. Well not love them in a weird way or anything. I’m not even a tree hugger but if a tree is one I like, when it dies or needs to be cut down I feel a loss. I miss things like the beauty of the wind blowing through the leaves or the smell of the needles/sap (yes, this is a little sappy) or even what the trees provide by their presence (shade, fruit, nuts, oxygen etc.). Well, I can’t really say I miss the oxygen, technically because I don’t really notice the oxygen that is missing but never-the-less, trees are beautiful.

Reality check-I’ve driven a lawn mower under many trees and there are things in trees I don’t like seeing at all-spiders, ticks, snakes and blobs (fungus). Yesterday, when I was mowing, I actually didn’t mow under a tree because I saw a really large snake skin. If that snake happened to be dangling from the tree when I went under-think either fodder for a new horror story or speed mowing contender. Also, I didn’t mow over the skin because my daughter would want to see the skin. Fascinating stuff, I’ll probably check it out, too. Maybe. I’m pretty sure it belongs to a Hognose snake that lives in or near the tree. Did you know that Hognose snakes play dead?

I can also tell you that once you climb a tree and come face to face with a pine snake you will think twice before climbing any more trees or you will at least check the branches first before reaching for them.

Be rooted in reality (snakes, ticks, birds, fungi) but reach higher (look to God) for inspiration, for dreams, for hope, for love.

Bonus thought: From a distance, trees are beautiful, singly or in groups, up close the picture may tell another story. When you consider your life, does the close up view match the long-term view?

Peace!

JulieD