tree caught

I'm in a forest in New Zealand and I've paused for a moment, because in front of me is a remarkable tree. It's a huge tree, and this tree has fallen over. It's been uprooted, I guess through old age and strong wind. The remarkable thing, though, is, instead of falling all the way to the ground, it has been caught by some other trees. There are three or four quite sturdy trees, which it is now leaning against. Those trees themselves have been pushed a little bit over, but not very much. They still look very healthy and strong. But this fallen tree is now at an angle of about thirty degrees to the ground: a little bit further and it would have gone all the way.

And it's really beautiful to see the way the branches of this fallen tree have interlaced themselves with the living, supporting, trees. It is as if it is appreciative of their support, a partner in this embrace. The remarkable thing doesn't stop there, though. This tree that has fallen still shows some signs of life. Not all of its roots have been cut, and so it is still a little bit alive, in its own right. That's not all, though. Its trunk and branches are covered in other plants: ferns and such like, bromeliads, I guess. It's a garden, so beautiful. In a way, it makes the tree seem more alive than when it was standing.

But seeing this fallen tree caught in this way, it reminds me of the later stages of the spiritual journey. To begin with, when we set out on a spiritual journey, we are very much the doer. We are making choices, using discipline, trying to get somewhere. And all of that is a necessary stage to go through, like a tree growing. But the real beauty of the spirit, the real, mysterious benediction of this journey, can only come when we finally topple, when we fall, when we surrender. It is in this ultimate undoing that the miracle happens.

We are caught by existence and carried by her, just as this fallen tree has been caught as it fell. And it has to be thus. Everything else is our doing, and like it or not, our ego will claim any benefits of such doing for itself. It's unavoidable. It's only through our non-doing, indeed our undoing, that we can go beyond this proud egoistic view of ourself. Only when we finally topple, can we enter a stage of life when we no longer proudly claim to be the agent of our good fortune.

This is what this fallen tree is reminding me of today. And it's such an important lesson, critical to our spiritual life. I take heed and give thanks.