Thoughts: Hold on, but not too tight….

The lessons are all around us, and it’s neat to have a friend that catches them.  I love this picture of the way things work, caught by my friend Ingrid in the post-winter solstice sun:

I was out in the yard the other day while my landlords were landscaping and planting saplings in anticipation of spring and the returning light.

Once in the ground, the young trees needed to be staked and my friend said, “Don’t stake them too tight.  They need some support, but also need to be able to bend in the wind.  If they are held rigid, they won’t grow strong enough roots to stay upright on their own.”

I reflected on how this is both true for trees and human saplings as well.  We all need care and encouragement to sink deep stable roots in our lives.  Roots that will feed compassion, love and community.  But too much support can also leave us fragile and unable to bend when adversity or even change threatens to blow us down.

Life always seems to be seeking this delicate balance between holding on and letting go.

Ingrid Gabriel