"A Lesson From Forestry"

09/17/19 As Bruce and I (& Steely) were taking our morning walk, I mentioned the need to move forward and remove the large trees identified some time ago with a red mark (imagine that procrastination to take away these majestic beauty's).   I was concerned that we do it soon, to limit the damage before the ground gets too soft...Bruce stated we are already a little late in the season and no matter what time of the year the tree removal team comes, it will 'leave a mark but its all repairable'....hummm!  That so moved me and led me to realize that 'life leaves marks' but they too can be repairable.

I have and you have literal scars from a childhood lived outside or perhaps a bad choice that did not end well, scars that are visible to the eye on the 'outside' the ones you have heard your friend (buddy) boasting about or covering up. But its those marks on the 'inside' those lessons in life, the traveling professor that shows up, knocks on all of our doors and with wisdom we open it up and invite them to stay awhile, we encourage the pain we work through it and let go of controlling it...although they may be 'repaired' they are permanently part of us, part the classroom of life,  which for me become teachings to pass on to someone in need. 

So, whether the glance in the review mirror suggest a bad decision or the good intention of just 'trying things' scars are part of life, a life that is messy and repairable and then messy again, its this rhythm that offers us the hope that the current scar will be mended we will move forward we will share our story to help someone who needs to remove the big trees in their live that are taking up space, space that the young eager full of hope saplings need to fully feel the sun.  Saplings that have learned from the majestic beauty's in our life (the big scars) and are ready to grow, make their own scars, try things! Unlike the tree surgeon you just can't schedule these events, you can't say hey I'm solid enough (the ground is firm) come on in pain, I'm ready...no that professor of pain comes unannounced some times and it will leave a mark. 

Sure I am playing with words and visuals, but you get it!  Lets us learn from these big majestic beautiful scars, let us heal and teach.  Life leaves marks, but they are repairable...with God's grace and the people put in your pathway, may you be present enough to 'see' them...

Here is to the forest the masters of natures teaching...may you be blessed with its wisdom. May you be blessed with a morning walk, a good friend with a teaching that may have been unintentional but was the learning of the day...and so I pass it to you.