One day, the magnificent multi-trunked tree in our backyard gave us a warning. We came home from our early morning shopping, and one of its massive trunks had fallen.
It chose to fall quietly when no one was home so the sound it made would not frighten anyone. It hurt nothing. Not a single branch touched the birdhouse. It stopped short of our deck and rested gently against one of the evergreens.
After the initial shock of what had happened, we asked why. The weather was calm. It wasn’t raining. Why had it fallen?
Checking the base of the tree, we discovered it had rotted out. The tree had gently warned us of impending danger. Because if the other tree’s trunks had fallen, they would have not only destroyed property but knocked out an electrical transformer.
We trusted the tree’s warning. We immediately topped off its long branches.
Now its three remaining trunks stand stark gray against the sky. Yes, we feel grief. But at least one of those trunks might survive and grow more branches. Others will provide homes for birds and animals.
Every time we look at that tree, we remember its former beauty, but we also feel deep respect for its wisdom and gratitude for its message to us.
Now it’s beautiful in a different way.
Life is like that. It lets us know what we need to do and what action to take.
This means that life changes. Looks different. But not taking the warning and ignoring its signs and symbols can be disastrous.
It’s so easy to look away and pretend that nothing is wrong. Or put off doing something and then forget. Sometimes fixes are meant to be temporary but become permanent due to neglect or convenient forgetting.
When we first moved into our house, I put a temporary curtain across the tiny closet in the bathroom. Fourteen years later, when the curtain fell on my head for the umpteenth time, I remembered it was supposed to be temporary and did something about it.
While I painted it, the bathroom was a disaster for days, and then Del installed an actual closet door, taking care of what we meant to do years before.
The tree falling down made a mess. The limbs being removed made even more of a mess. But the bathroom and the tree messes were on our own timetable, making them relatively easy to clean up.
When we ignore warnings, the timetable is no longer ours, and the results can sometimes be tragic.
In his book Stillness Is the Key, Ryan Holiday reminds us that stillness is powerful. Ryan points out that being overly busy is never the solution.
We need the time, and the space, to put ourselves back into harmony with all people, places, and things.
Then change may be messy, but it will be graceful. And if we are willing to let go of trying to control, it will be harmonious.
Now that the tree no longer blocks the sun, light pours into our backyard.
Plants are thriving. And soon, new sprouts on whichever trunk survives will give the tree a new look. And every time we look at that tree, we will remind ourselves to pay attention to what else we need to notice.
Take the time to listen to quiet warnings and then do something about what you hear.
The world is counting on us to do our part, heed warnings, and clean up our messes. No matter how small, it all makes a difference.
BECA LEWIS coaches, teaches, writes blogs and books, plays with art, and is addicted to reading. She lives in Ohio with her husband and has kids and grandkids scattered across the country.
