I went for a walk this afternoon by the old historic tunnel near our house, and while walking along the stream I admired the trees that lined the upper bank of the pathway. When you look up, you look up through the trees into the sky, giving you a great perspective. Years ago, this tunnel was dug out of the rock layers, and there are vsible layers of rock and shale along the walls of the banks. Some of the roots to these trees are also visible, so it gives you a good visualization of how deep their roots actually go, and you can see how they grew deep and found their way in and out of the openings between the rock and shale, deep beneath the grounds surface, providing a good anchor. Even though some of the roots are partly exposed, the majority of the roots are still completely covered, and this provides a good, strong support system. The trees have endured many storms throughout the years. I thought, this provides a great visual comparison, a lesson that we can apply to our life. It is so important that we establish a strong foundation on which to stand, and that foundation is often based on our beliefs, and core values. If our feet are planted firmly on the ground, and our values are deeply rooted within our heart, we should be able to endure the storms of life. It may not always be easy, and the storms that come along may be wicked at times, tossing us to and fro, testing our endurance, but in the end, if we have planted our feet on a strong foundation, I believe we will be able to withstand the storms that come our way. Will it be easy? No. We indeed may sustain some bumps and bruises while we ride out the storm, but the rough ride can help build, and strengthen our endurance. Where ever we find ourself in life, we must make the choice to hang on, and give life the best we can. It is going to require us to go on, even during those times we feel like giving up. We may even question life, and wonder if it is worth it all. In most cases, after the storm has passed, we look back, and we see that it was worth it.
This is a fave in every single way. I love the angle, the composition, the subject and the black and white. And I especially love your words, because I needed a bit of uplifting tonight, and found it here.
Mary, Life handed me a few rough spots along the way, and some of life's lessons I learned the hard way, but besides that, I am not one to give up too easily.
Great perspective- both in the picture and on life. The picture really does show how deeply rooted the tree is and just as it is important that a tree have a firm foundation, so too it is for us. Great meditation Rick!
