Jedediah Smith Park
As I wandered through the redwoods with my family this summer, I was reminded of my love for nature and how, growing up, I loved to wander through a small forest and talk to the trees. Standing beneath the towering sequoias, I marveled at how their roots reach deep and wide, anchoring them securely while their branches stretch toward heaven.
Strength, in its essence, is a force that shapes not just our physical world but the very fabric of our being. This force can manifest in two ways: one that pushes down and another that pulls up. These two modes symbolize opposing yet intertwined paths one can take in life’s journey.
Sequoia Forest, Crescent City
Pushing Down: The Weight of Control
Life has a way of pushing us down, often when we least expect it. You might face a challenging situation—perhaps a demanding project at work with difficult coworkers who constantly undermine your efforts. Or it could be a personal struggle, like a health issue that drains your energy or a relationship that seems to crumble despite your best efforts. In these moments, life feels heavy, and the weight can be overwhelming.
This force that pushes us down is the pressure that tests our resilience, like the weight of the world pressing on the roots of a sequoia. But just as a sequoia’s roots dig deep and wide, anchoring the tree through storms and fires, so too must we find the strength to stand firm. It’s easy to be defeated, to let the weight crush our spirit, but true strength means resisting that pull. It’s about finding the resolve to push back against the pressures, to stay grounded and unyielding. Even when life is pushing us down, we can draw on the deep, unwavering strength within us, refusing to be pulled under by despair.
Jedediah Smith Park
Pulling Up: The Lift of Empowerment
Conversely, life bestows moments that draw us upwards, akin to the sequoia's majestic branches reaching heavenward, yearning to embrace the light and gather the goodness of the cosmos. Picture a time when a friend's unexpected kindness felt like a gentle hand lifting you from the shadows, or when you achieved a significant milestone—whether a promotion, overcoming a personal challenge, or forging a deep connection—that infused your spirit with newfound hope and vitality.
These celestial moments act as our guiding stars, urging us to ascend beyond our earthly confines. Just as the sequoia's branches stretch toward the divine light, these experiences inspire us to rise, expanding our inner horizons and seeking the transcendence beyond. To recognize and embrace these uplifting forces is to dance with the metaphysical currents of life, allowing them to elevate our being. Instead of letting our fears and doubts root us in the depths, we should surrender to the wave of positivity, allowing it to lift us to the sublime heights where light and potential converge.
My sweet Angels, the blood of my blood
The Choice Before Us
Strength is neither inherently good nor bad; the intention behind its use defines its moral value. When life pushes us down, we can choose to resist, stand tall, and not be defeated. When life pulls us up, we can embrace the opportunity to grow and lift others along with us. The secret is not to jump into the abyss when things don't go our way but to follow our divine attributes and inherited qualities, seeking the peace our soul craves.
Walking among the living giant sequoias, I understood more clearly what God expects of us. These ancient giants, some over 3,000 years old, face relentless threats from fire, pests, and drought, yet they endure, growing into the tallest trees on Earth. Like the redwoods, our lives are fraught with challenges, but I believe God desires not our downfall but our strength—to rise and reach for the heavens despite the trials we face. The strength that pushes us down forms the roots that anchor us in life's trials, while the strength that lifts us unfurls as wings, carrying us toward boundless possibilities. In the same way, we strive to give our children deep roots, grounding them in love and values so they can soar far in life, always remembering the place and people who nurtured their wings.
In this dance between the forces that push us down and those that pull us up, we find our true strength. As we navigate the complexities of life, may we strive to use our strength not to push others down but to pull them up. In lifting others, we rise together.
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