THE BASSWOOD TREE
Friends,
On the north side of my home is a basswood
tree planted when my children were young. Although it has
surpassed the height of my home, the weathered oak trees
that line the edge of our property tower over this tree.
The basswood is beautifully and perfectly formed. Three trunks
rise from a center point in the ground. Each of these trunks
leans outward. The bottom layer of the basswood tree's branches
bend so low that the tips are only a few feet from the ground.
As I step through an opening in the lower branches I find
myself in an open space created around the base of the tree.
This space rises upward and forms a dome over my head. From
my view looking upward I am able to view the inner structure
of this tree. As the three main trunks reach outward the
tops are lost in a sea of leaves. From these main arteries
a multitude of branches burst outward. From these branches,
more and more smaller branches. It appears endless. All around
me, I am nearly hidden from the outside world by heart shaped
leaves. I feel the earth solid beneath my feet. Overhead
the sun filters through layers and layers of green. I am
breathless with such unexpected beauty. The air is vibrantly
alive with a feeling of expectancy. This feeling of waiting
for something to happen flows all around me. This feeling
flows outward and it too appears endless. Spontaneously I
begin to pray. I pray that as co-creator of my life, as co-creator
of my world, I be shown as many possibilities in each moment
as there are heart shaped leaves on this tree. May these
possibilities surprise me and bring joy and harmony into
my life and life around me.
In the evening I am given this dream. In my
dream I am washing my hair. I tip my head forward so that
my hair covers my face. My hair is long and thick. Underneath
the outer layer of silver, my hair is it's youthful auburn
color. I lovingly cup water in my hand and let the water
fall onto my hair. Then as dreams do, I am washing the basswood
tree. My hands reach upward, to the very top, and I gently
wash the bark. There is such a feeling of love and tenderness
present.
With love, Diane Evans
