Into the woods..

Today I took a hike a little differently than usual. I strapped my phone around my neck, put my favorite music playlist in my ear, and just started walking. I did not have a set plan. I did not have a set pace. I knew I had hours to just--be. I wanted to be intentional.

I wanted to experience the woods in a different way than I normally do. Instead of being in my head the entire time, I wanted to observe everything and take in the beauty of the trail. So I had music on to distract me from all the intruding thoughts, and I walked as though I had not been frequenting this state park for the past 2 years--as though I didn't already know every curve in the path, and every area with loose soil that would get slippery when it lightly rained.

If there is one word that could completely encapsulate the mood of that walk I would say that everything felt:

textured.

The woods are layered with fragrances, sounds, and textures that overwhelm the senses. I tried to take pictures to display these wonders; however I know I do not do them justice. I do not own a fancy camera that will really make you feel the velveteen softness of the vibrant green moss, or get lost in the hidden depths of the bark on the tree pictured. I played a little with the contrast and shadows to try and assist in showcasing the beauty of it all.

It did not matter which way I walked, where my head turned--if I looked up, or down, towards the sun or shadow, I was surrounded--by--

Paper thin, bleached leaves that you can almost hear crumple in your hands.

Thin and sharp green pine needles.

Smooth, mottled trunks displaying splashes of varying colors that put camouflage to shame.

Bark that sloughs off in shaved curls around the base of the tree.

Dozens of flakey layers of bark with blackened crevices where they split.

Familiar spent prickly pinecones, in all shapes and sizes, thin outstretched arms no longer cradling the seeds within.

Empty nutshells, and their pungent fleshy green husks that enveloped them.

Surprisingly uniform rows and rows of tiny pin point sized holes in the tree trunks, left behind by a hungry woodpecker.

Rotten forgotten berries, smears of colorful juices splattered like blood.

Half eaten seeds--empty shells discarded with rough, splintery chewed edges.

Moist and pungent decay that seemed to spring forth from every inch of the woods--surrounding fading trees, exploding from mounds of wet leaves, and the shady undersides of logs--full of spongey life-of all varying shapes and colors.

And then there were the dry bits of broken branches and fractured leaves, tiny pieces of a life that started green and bursting with energy--then faded to dust with the progression of the seasons.

Of course that is just the tip of the iceberg--but my thoughts intrude in on my exploration of adjectives describing the surrounding area--not surprising.

I would have to say that life is a lot like this.

Full of layers, textures... cycles and complications, surprising delights and forgettable redundancies.

Not everything is what you see upon first glance.

From afar, it is a line of greenery, boring and seemingly unchanging. It can easily become invisible to those who see it day after day, just background with no real meaning. And yet, there is so much purpose within that background--those trees breathe in what we breathe out, and release what we breathe in--it is essential to our survival. The trees provide shelter and food for insects and birds and animals, a plethora of man made items for the human population, and eye candy for the casual observer. The trees can provide shade from the sun, dryness from the rain, stillness in the midst of a relentless wind. Much of what lives on land relies heavily on the trees and the woods in which they grow.

And yet again, life and the events in a person's life are similar. It is easy to get lost in a sea of people, unfamiliar faces that mean nothing to us at first glance. It isn't until upon further inspection that a person may see more facets and layers. Kind interactions can have a lifetime impact on a complete stranger, as can rude ones. Nothing seems clear cut or easy--one action can have a multitude of differing effects.

Take the picture of this tree, for example.

The seed that dropped here was close to water, and it sprouted and became a strong sapling. As it grew, either the soil eroded (for reference this tree is on the edge of a medium sized stream) or, it adapted the route of its roots based on the closeness of the edge of the soil and the water source. Either way, where it grew and how it grew was affected by many factors: the location of where seed sprouted, the location of the water, the shape of the ground it grew in--the surrounding plants and trees, the weather, insects in the area, creatures that did not eat the tree when it was young, etc. etc. all these things had an impact on the tree's survival and ultimate shape in its latter years, resulting in this picture.

This is but one tree, on one trail, in one park, living its life clinging to the edge of a stream. It is beautiful. It shows strength, ingenuity, survival.

Stop for a moment.

Reflect on your life.

Your experiences.

The things that shaped you to be as you are.

You could not control the location and time period in which you were born. Nor could you predict your parentage and siblings, outside circumstances and influences upon you and even your genetics. You can not control the societal norms or even the changes over the decades that happen while you live.

These all have an influence over you, and truly the only thing you have any control over is how you respond to all this.

Will you hide away?

Will you become resentful?

Will you learn and adapt?

Will you overcome?

We are graced with this ability--the trees are not.

They MUST adapt. They MUST overcome--or they will simply cease to exist.

This at first glance looks like cinnamon rolls gone wrong...or an alien plant...but it's neither.

This is simply--a tree root.

A tree root that was prevented from growing any further upwards, due to exposure and weathering and possible hikers trampling and tripping.

In the shadows of the root nubs moisture collects and moss flourishes. With the build up of straw and dead leaves decomposition is in progress--but the root remains unaffected as this tree is robust and has many roots that grow under the ground and thrive. I adore all the swirls and layers seen in these roots- and even more, the fact that these roots connect to a very old and very large tree.

They are beautiful, and yet an unsuccessful representation of this flourishing tree in the woods.

It is easy to get hung up on the things we are unsuccessful at. No one is good at everything, and we do not have control over much of what happens to us. The most important thing--what seems to me to be the matter of life vs. death--is our response to the things that happen to us--the good and the bad.

Do you have the ability to grow where you are planted--regardless of the weather, location of water, and oncoming herbivores in your life? Reflect on all the layers and textures of your life--there is so much more to each person than just what can be seen on the outside.

We were created to withstand the odds.

There is so much against us--so much ugliness in humanity sometimes.

Nature can be brutal, the elements, weather, creatures around us.

Just as life can be brutal for us--our situations and circumstances are no different in that aspect.

And yet, it brings out a unique beauty in each of us.

And with each trial we face, each storm we weather--each struggle creates a new layer for us, and adds texture to our identity.

Nature shows us just how beautiful those textures and layers are--

and I hope you can see the beautiful layers that you are made up of-- and wear them with grace and dignity.