I want to share something interesting that happened to me today. Well it actually happened yesterday but the results were seen today. I have a rock garden in the front of the house and for the whole summer it was left unattended. In English, that means that the weeds officially took over and dared anybody to do something about it. Well I decided to battle the kingdom of the weeds. I got out the rake, shovel, garbage pail, gloves and this neat weed puller hoe type thing and started out on my weed conquest.
After about 6 hours I was exhausted and steaming from the 90% New Jersey humidity. As I looked around I could see that I was just about done. The weeds had succumbed to my will and hard effort. I was truly the master of the weed kingdom and they knew it. I put a plan into action and I could see the fruits of my labor.
As I was looking around I noticed a branch on one of the trees was dead. It was a decent size branch and must have been dead for a while. The moss wouldn’t even grow on it. Now the branch was about 15 feet above the ground and I had no idea how I was gonna cut it down. I could get a ladder and a chain saw, but that seemed too dangerous and I was too tired anyway. I could throw a rope around it, back the truck up and give it a good yank but I didn’t have any rope. Not to mention the fact that it began to rain “again”. If you know anything about the weather in New Jersey you know that there are too prevailing weather conditions here in the summer. It is either sunny and hot and muggy or it is raining and hot and muggy. Kind of like a tropical paradise without the paradise.
Well anyway, I decided to pack it in for the day go in the house and get a cold drink. After all I deserve it, I conquered the weeds and will leave the battle with the tree for another time. Before I went I looked up at the branch and said “you’re coming down”. Now I know this may seem kinda crazy but I felt that I was challenged and I had to let the branch know that I wasn’t discouraged and I wasn’t intimidated. I would conquer the branch just as I had conquered the weeds. Nothing could stand against my will and my desire to seek absolution. I would be victorious.
I woke up the next morning ready to battle the branch and noticed that it was raining “again”. No great shock it is New Jersey. The branch would get another day of reprieve. But soon enough I would have victory. I will bring the branch down.
So to confirm my commitment I decided to go out to the tree and assess how I was going to bring it down. I got dressed, had a cup of coffee and headed outside. I looked at the tree and much too my amazement the branch was no longer on the tree. It laid at the base of the tree, a fallen pathetic remnant of a once formidable foe. It no longer posed a threat to my sanity or me for that matter.
This got me thinking. Did I tap into the future? Was this the day that the branch was going to fall and I somehow was able to see this ahead of time? Did I cause the branch to fall? Was I somehow responsible for the branch falling off the tree by my very thoughts and intention? Was there another lesson to be learned here? Are the weeds and the branch somehow a lesson to be learned? A metaphor about the mind and how we must pick the weeds and remove the branches in our thoughts that keep us from experiencing happiness and true understanding.
I am happier that the branch is down. I am happier that the weeds are no longer hiding the beauty of the rock garden. I understand the place the weeds and the branch have in the larger scheme of things and I am thankful for the chance to experience this first hand.
There are lessons in all the things that happen to us and I’m sure if you thought about it you will find hundreds of things that have happened to you which you can reflect on to help you understand the true nature of reality. To see and experience the world as a wonderful place.
There are also things that happen which defy our concepts of reality. How we can affect the world around us by the mere act of thinking and intention. How we can at times gain a glimpse into the future. There is so much more to you then you let yourself believe. Open up your heart and mind to the endless possibilities you possess.
Start today.
Pull the weeds and remove your own branch……
