The oak tree outside my window

Outside of my window I see a beautiful oak tree dressed in the full colors of autumn.  This tree has stood its ground for many years.  It overlooks my house and the neighborhood, silently watching.  Its roots run deep and wide and bring nourishment to itself from the earth.  The branches run tall and expand to the heavens drawing in energy from the sun and atmosphere.  This nourishment and energy combine so the tree is able to provide oxygen to our planet, shade for the ground and plants and beauty for our eyes to see.  This tree is a home for birds, squirrels and bugs.  All of this happens simply without toil or haste. 

There is a maple tree next to it that is much bigger and more beautiful.  It has much more room for birds and animals to house there and is able to create a much larger volume of oxygen.  It’s been there much longer than the oak tree and its fall colored leaves are much more brilliant.  The oak tree feels so fortunate to be living next to this mighty tree.  It enjoys watching the birds and animals run up and down the branches and loves seeing the beautiful autumn colors it produces.  The oak tree is thankful that the maple trees roots are so deep and wide that they have mingled with its own.  This has helped the oak tree to be stronger and more stable.  The root systems allow them to help each other gain nourishment. 

The oak tree is aware that people in the neighborhood ooh and aah over the maple tree’s beautiful colors and love to sit under it in the summer months for the shade it provides.  The oak tree’s golden autumn leaves seem bland in comparison to the crimson red of the mighty maple tree.  Even so, the oak tree feels no envy or anger toward the maple tree.  The golden leaves are a beautiful backdrop for the crimson red leaves of the maple tree.  It’s aware of the differences between the trees but doesn’t compare itself against the other tree.  It simply blooms and silently watches. 

The oak tree has some advice for me:

Allow your roots to run deep, wide and intermingle with others.  In this way you will stand strong during the storms of life, gain nourishment and help others around you do the same. 

Allow your branches to reach toward the heavens drawing in energy from Source that will fill your being with love and grace.

Release comparisons and judgment, just bloom where you are planted and allow others to do the same.

In your daily work, toiling and haste are not helpful.  Allow the flow of life and do your work with ease.

Spend time just watching and “being”.