SIX7WEBSITE - Blog , WRITINGSIX7WEBSITE - Blog , WRITINGhttp://workshopsix7.zohosites.com/blogs/writingSun, 10 May 2026 01:26:45 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Flexibility]]>http://workshopsix7.zohosites.com/blogs/post/FlexibilitySometimes life is delivered softly and lightly from up above, taking its various forms -- sunshine, clouds, rain, snow, etc. Sometimes life is delivered up fierce, (wet) and heavy -- sometimes ...]]>

How Are These Trees Like Us?

I saw a spiritual lesson is this Snowmageddon 2012.
I was walking through the woods on Saturday with my daughter and marveling at the beauty and power (or lack there of) brought by this snow storm. The trails we normally tread were criss-crossed with downed branches, broken tree tops, whole trees ... and branches arching down by weight of the heavy snow. I was fascinated.

In parallel, I thought about how much these trees and branches are like us.

Sometimes life is delivered softly and lightly from up above, taking its various forms -- sunshine, clouds, rain, snow, etc. Sometimes life is delivered up fierce, (wet) and heavy -- sometimes driving, not unlike this storm.
Who doesn't dig life when it comes down like warm sunshine or in light wispy snowflakes or a soft nourishing rain?

So, I was thinking about these arched branches. I was thinking how the others could not bear the weight and have snapped.

I was thinking how perfect it all is. How, it's nature's way of pruning, of cleaning house --- and the trees and shrubs of their most inflexible or weakest parts.

I had respect for those valiantly stretching themselves, bending, learning to be flexible and felt a sadness and a sort of respect also for those who served their time, gave all and have snapped under the weight. 

How these trees are like us.

I think (I'm sure) that nature does this on purpose to strengthen the tree, the forest -- and us.

I was thinking about how in every climate I could think of, nature delivers up a way to make the trees and the people stretch themselves (i.e. hurricanes, prairie winds, heavy snow, parasitic vines/mosses, etc.) ... about how nature does indeed intend this -- demand it.

I think about how I've been made to bend and become more flexible. I think about the times I've felt broken or damaged because I was holding up too much on my own(not asking for help), or being inflexible or taking on too much at once or when I was simply not prepared for all that was coming at me. In all of those cases, being pruned or stretched, I was made stronger and/or lighter, and maybe more aware of my purpose -- growing skyward.

Think about this too. Think about how these trees and branches -- overburdened, bore down and snapped power(lines), affecting countless others. Is this a lesson too? Is this an indication that we need to spread out the weight of life wherever under our control ... and be, in essence, more evenly yoked?

I think God challenges us all to be flexible ... sometimes in ways we cannot imagine.
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