A TREE IN WINTER

As autumn gradually gives way to winter, the whole world becomes cold and foreboding. There is less and less light, and signs of life in the forest gradually fade away. The life of the tree, the sap, withdraws from the world and seeks the safety and warmth of roots buried deep in the earth.

During the harshness of winter, nothing is asked of the tree but to survive. The leaves fall off, and the tree becomes barren and ugly. [Not everyone thinks a tree in winter is ugly of course, but the people for whom this story is relevant ofen feel very ugly indeed.] 

But beauty is not called for in winter. All that is called for is survival. There may be ice storms that break some of the limbs, leaving an open wound. But healing is not called for in winter.  To all outward appearances, the tree is lifeless and dead. But growth is not called for in winter.  All that is asked of tree tree is to survive.

Finally, in the beginning of spring, the days become longer and there is more light than darkness. The harshness and cold of winter give way to the warmth of spring. In response to this light and warmth, the tree comes to life again.  The sap is drawn by the increasing warmth of the world up through the trunk and out to the limbs and branches and twigs. Only then are healing and growth asked of the tree. During the harshness of winter, all that is asked of the tree is to survive.