As I stood awkwardly looking at a small cluster of eucalyptus trees that had deposited their bark onto the damp ground I understood that this was more than just a grove trees this was a lesson for life.
That just as these trees had gone through the seasons and experienced growth I too had seasons in my own life. We both started out as something small with little purpose but through our time here on Earth have grown into much more through the seasons.
As I stood there contemplating these giant trees and the bark that they had deposited it be came clear that just like these trees had to shed some of their outer shell in order to continue on growing upward, I too have had to leave parts of myself in the dust. At first this seemed sad, but as I continued to process this imagery before me I realized that the fallen bark was not a loss for the tree. The left behind bark created a natural ground cover that protected the root system from heavy rains as well as nourished the soil allowing for a healthier tree. Such is true in life as well, that if we allow some of those things in our past to be striped away and laid aside we can grow into healthier human beings. It is not to say we have to forget that those things were ever a part of us, but instead allow ourselves the freedom to be nourished and protected by them while not letting the weight of them to hold us down.
There are over 700 varieties of eucalyptus trees, and I bet that there are no two of them exactly the same. Just like humans. And it's like adults always tell kids, "it's what’s on the inside that counts." When you peel back the dead bark of the tree you reveal the new fresh inner beauty of the tree.
I want the same to be true for my life, that if you get just beyond the surface, you see the true beauty and new growth that is taking place. In Hawaii the inner bark is a rainbow of colors, I recall seeing these amazing trees on a vacation their and thinking to myself, I want to see more of that (not even aware that it was a common eucalyptus tree)
If you have ever been near one of these trees than you know that not only is their size and inner ever changing beauty impressive so is the aroma that they produce. The oil that these mighty trees are known for is used in many teas, medicines and beauty treatments to bring about relaxation, healing, peace and beauty. I desire to have these same effects on others. Not only is their oil used but so are the leaves, and the trees themselves are the harvested for their strong lumber as well as to be made into paper. They could perhaps end up holding and protecting life either as a house or piece of furniture, or be used in the telling of someone’s life story. No matter which one of these trees I gazed upon the fact is that they have grown from seedlings to mature trees with countless uses and potential. And I myself can only hope that the same could be said for my life.
Yes, all this from a bunch of trees, and that was just the beginning of my walk yesterday.
