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At the lake near my home there was an old tree that was
truly majestic. It was 70 feet tall and set right at the
water’s edge. It provided shade to generations of fishermen
and was home to countless squirrels and birds over the
years. In the fall its colorful leaves were glorious to gaze
upon. By the end of October they had covered the walk path
in a thick, crunchy carpet that was a joy to the eye, a
pleasure to the nose, and a delight to the ear. This tree
was such a wonder to behold. It made the lake and the world
a more beautiful place just by being in it. A few years
ago, however, erosion began to take its toll on the ground
around the tree. There came a point when the dirt was so
worn away by the lake water that it could no longer support
the huge roots of this massive beauty and the tree fell to
the ground. Amazingly, for the next year it still held on to
life. The following Spring with only a few roots still in
the ground this tree produced fresh leaves along its fallen
limbs. Eventually, though, the tree died and its huge trunk
began to slowly decompose. I was saddened by this, but took
joy in remembering the beautiful life this tree had lived.
As I was walking around the decaying trunk today,
however, I saw something that made my heart sing. Seeds had
fallen into it and started to grow. Out of this dead trunk
two new saplings were now growing. Even in its death this
glorious tree was bringing beauty and life to this world.
May we all live our lives as beautifully as this tree
did. May we all live a life that makes the world around us a
better place. May we all live a life of such love, such joy,
and such light that we touch countless lives with our
spirit. May we all live a life of such goodness, such
kindness, and such oneness with God that we continue to
bring beauty, love, and life to the hearts and souls of
others even after we have left this world for the next.
© 2005 Joseph Mazzella |
