Winter Trees

I don my bright red scarf for a morning walk in the January woods, adding my own flash of color to the monochrome world around me. Icy pellets, neither snow nor rain, fall sporadically from the aluminum clouds overhead . Each one makes a little “plunk“ as it hit’s the damp mat of autumn leaves, now woven across the forest floor. All around me is evidence of what natives call the West Virginia gray days. Should a person from a barren desert land, visit these woods in winter, she might see these trees and exclaim, “How sad! The trees here have all died!” Indeed, on this bleak January morning, the dark trunks and naked limbs of oak, maple and sycamore appear to be nothing more than boney fingered skeletons shivering in the wind. Yet, deep within each tree lies a not- so- obvious truth: Life is present…ever pulsing Life! This image of death is no more than an illusion. As these trees have acclimated to colder weather and shorter days, their life blood (sap) has retreated to the root areas as protection against winter’s freezing temperatures. Their activity has slowed, and they now experience a tree’s version of winter rest. Slowly and steadily a gentle awakening will occur as days grow longer until, finally, spring will bring them once more to their fullest expressions of Life. We need to respect those times when our own Life energy is at a winter low. We need to listen to our bodies …to the lethargy…to the aches and pains….to the dwindling creative spark. Rather than become alarmed or filled with self loathing for our ineffectiveness, we’ll benefit most when we scale back our level of activity for awhile, and wait. Lets keep our fuzzy slippers by the front door, and get comfortable as quickly as possible when we arrive home. Let’s take more naps and fewer phone calls. Let’s plan simpler meals. Let’s think like the trees! In due time, our internal gray days will pass, and we will, like all living things, feel the energy of pure Life surge within us again. We will be renewed . Blessings, Sandra