When leaving an appointment back in the fall, I was suddenly captivated by a gorgeous yellow tree lining the bordering lot. She was in full autumn glory, displaying her radiance for everyone who took the time to notice. I shared a weekly meditation discerned from that encounter and followed it up a week later, after noticing the tree had lost all of her breath-taking leaves in less than seven days.
Yesterday, I was visiting the same building and this tree called out to me as I started to leave the parking lot. She has nothing but empty branches now, not even a hint of her former vitality as she blended in with all the other barren trees.
Immediately I felt inclined to say to the tree, I see you. I know you. I remember you in all your brilliance. It’s still there. It hasn’t gone anywhere. A new cycle is emerging and soon you will be ripe with growth and beauty, just as before. Maybe even bigger and better than before, now that you’ve had time to incubate and gather more resources. You will bloom in full again, since you’ve had time to rest, to surrender to change, and to simply focus on recovery and
growth.
And, dear tree, this isn’t the time to be concerned about providing shade or color for others. You can’t give what you don’t have. This is the time where you go deep within and strengthen your roots. Once you’ve re-covered and have something to share, you will offer your gifts again. Stop worrying about everyone else. Now is the time to focus on yourself. As you grow and invest in your own roots, you’ll have plenty to share once more.
Some of us need to say this to ourselves. Stand in front of the mirror and try it:
I see you. You’re beautiful. You’re brilliant. Nothing has changed that. This season of incubation and change will prove to have made you stronger and even more alive than before. Trust the process. Let this season develop more gifts for you to share. Always remember, replenishing your resources is vital to growth. It’s a worthy investment of your time. Soon enough, you will emerge vibrant, colorful, deeply grounded and larger-than-life, ready to give back all that you have been
generously given. Even today, just as you are, you are perfectly enough.
I see you too …
Everything you just said to yourself is true. You wouldn’t be feeding your soul with inspiration this very moment if it wasn’t. Keep going. Keep growing. Be expectant of great things. Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. I believe in you. I stand with you. Even in the depths of winter, without any evidence of fruit, we are magnificent souls and inherently worthy of celebration. Look how far we've come … and imagine how far we've yet to go.
Say the above to yourself a few more times like you mean it. Now have fun walking that truth out today. I can feel myself growing taller already, can you?
