I am finding encouragement from the trees: there is more to them than meets the eye.
A tiny seed is planted into the ground. Before anything is even seen above the dirt, the roots are being established. The seed is digging deep to endure the weight of a sprout.
There is a balance.
What is visible is the upward motion of the tree, but the downward motion is just as crucial to the health and the longevity of the tree. The sprout soon grows, and the roots have already prepared for it but have not slackened their pace, for now, they continue their tunneling to support all the rest to follow: an ever growing trunk, branches, and seeds/fruit.
The tree takes time.
When anticipating the fruit, the shade, the lumber, the wind block, or the climbing the tree will provide, this time can be agonizing! There is no way to rush the process, and so, we wait.
In a world full of opinions, in a world with pressures to not “fall behind,” I am choosing to listen to the trees. I am building two trees with my husband – a familial tree and a dominion tree. They are trees of relationship and productivity, which have a root system woven and intertwined with each other. With these trees, we are working to intentionally take our time because we have a vision of deep connection and great impact. These trees will need to bear much weight. As such, we know our roots need to be deep, unified, and absorbing nutrients. And sometimes this means we wait, we slow down our pace, and we take our time to make sure our decisions and actions are unified and moving us towards our dreams and towards each other.
This too can be agonizing. In the moment, saying no can feel like we are missing out or falling behind as other shoots are climbing to the skies. It is taking our time, intentionality, patience, effort, investment, courage, and encouragement. Just like with the tree, the roots spread deep before much is seen above in the top soil. There is some work that needs to be done in both trees which isn’t very showy or maybe seems dormant or even dead. Without this work, this grounding, unifying, and deep digging work, whatever gets grown above will not be able to withstand time or weather or burden of seed – or fruit. Without this silent plunging together to establish unity, trust, and core values, a healthy tree of impact will not survive.
So we hold on to the vision of creating together and know it is worth the wait.
Relationships, dreams, vision, businesses, crafts all need to grow up. I do not want to be too hasty and do just to do or I may be too busy to discover and work toward my family’s collective dreams.
I don’t know where the quote comes from, but one says, “If you don’t know what to do, don’t just do something. Just stand there.” Let us not rush to save the world. Let us know who we (as a unit, a family) are, figure out what we have to offer the world, and grow trees firmly rooted and established in love and unity.
The trees are calling patience to all who have ears to hear. Let’s listen and grow something miraculous!
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