The Oak Tree

There’s this magnificent old oak tree that can be seen right outside of our church’s windows. It is one big tree, taking up a lot of the window space, and almost resting perfectly in the middle of one’s view out the window.

Oftentimes, I sit directly across from the windows looking out at this tree. It’s almost comforting to see that tree now, strong and unbending despite nature’s strong breezes and winds that have blown against it for years.

When I really look at this tree, I notice that on second glance, its not that unbending at all. In fact, it bends rather a lot, swaying too and fro with the winds.

It’s this bending that has helped that wonderful old oak tree grow so tall over the decades. Bending with the wind, instead of railing against it, resisting it. Accepting the wind, accepting what life has brought to it, instead of constantly fighting against it, not accepting reality.

Pretty good way to live a life, isn’t it?

Yet, we human creatures spend a lot of time railing against life for giving us events that we don’t want to happen. We become rigid, unwilling to bend like that old oak tree in the breeze, and we find ourselves in rotten moods, complaining that life once again has conspired against us.

Acceptance is a wonderful concept, but oh so difficult to make come to life within us. Yet, acceptance of what is, rather than wishing it was something different, is the key to harmony, the key to peace within us.

Turns out that old oak tree knows a thing or two.

-The Minister.