Each day, when I look at the Japanese Maple in our yard, I am reminded that it can be a powerful symbol for each of us. We each have the seasons of the year and the seasons of our lives. To grow we need nurturing, care, and the pruning away of those parts of us that are no longer enhancing our lives. The tree's shape reminds me that we each have unique gifts, branching out beautifully in many directions. Our beauty is also enhanced when we follow the way our natures intended-- with a little pruning to keep us moving upward and outward. Like the Japanese Maple, we can't always do what we need to do alone - we need others who share our vision and our mission.
We can't do it alone, but we must be very cautious about whom we allow to tend our garden…actualizing our lives depends on this. We also need to remain firmly grounded in ourselves.
This tree became a symbol for my work as well, because it seems to inspire a creative response in those who encounter it: one friend saw the picture of this maple tree, first, as resembling a series of road maps, then as a map of the brain. Do you have a creative response?
What do you see?
How does the photograph of this tree speak to you?
Please share your answer with us so we might, with your permission, include it in the newsletter. Thank you.