Deeply Rooted

     In a Wildlife Preserve outside Savannah, I experienced a scene like out of "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. I went on a walk through a Spanish Moss covered dense wood within the swamp. The unusual collection of birds sang a symphony as they gathered there that sunny morning.

     There were thick vines that had been hoisted into the air as the tree that was their host grew up, and reached for the sky. As I walked, I noted so many different shades of green. I had not realized that there could be so many striking yet subtle variations. I noted the magnificence of a tree that had been nearly felled, but whose roots continued to grow in the ground. The tree continued to prosper and grow stronger, even as it tilted and leaned against its neighbors.

     That tree reminded me of the definition of community. We are a relational species. We naturally long for community, for connectedness with others. We need other people in order to grow. We need other people to do the work we were put on this planet to do. Yet we also struggle to find our own way, be independent: strong, mighty, unstoppable.

     We start each new venture in a state of dependence. We can not make it on our own at all. We rely on supports from those around us, as the tree did when it became uprooted in the first place. Perhaps the tree had been strong, tall and self reliant before it almost fell.

     If that tree had been human, it might have struggled, rebelled against its helpmates and said, "No. I know how to make these roots work again! I will struggle and strain and strive to become strong all on my own thank you! Your gifts and talents are not needed. See? I can do this standing tall thing!" It would have gotten stuck in independence.

     Thankfully, nature is wiser than us humans. The trees around the fallen tree continued to care for and nurture that tree. Very importantly, the tree allowed itself to be supported by the other trees until it could grow again on its own. The fallen tree admitted it could not stand alone anymore, as its roots had been lifted from the soil. It needed assistance from its neighbors.

     As it healed and grew its roots more firmly in the soil, it once more could grow on its own, but it maintained its bent, less than perfect perspective. That way, its lesson was so much stronger for the observers who would come along later and ponder its existence.

     However humans do not always give each other license. License to thrive and grow even while bent and misshapen, perhaps not looking or seeming to be as expected. Humans might have uprooted or torn down the imperfect tree. Humans tend to do the same with imperfect people. Even as we are all less than perfect, we oftentimes neglect to forgive ourselves and others.

     The fallen tree was an example of someone needing others in order to grow. But the gift the fallen tree gave to the trees that supported it are multifold. When we can fully support others in their imperfections as we recognize and allow others to do the same for us, we will become rooted more deeply and meaningfully than is imaginable.

     Growing towards interdependence is magical, powerful and joyful. It is about greater depths of joy and understanding. It is about becoming all of what you were meant to become. In the end, the perceived weaknesses bring forth the greatest strengths. From where we are bent and "growing wrong" we offer the deepest well of inspiration. Of love. Of joy. Become deeply rooted. Today.

© 2000. Julie Jordan Scott