A new beginning
This is an old hickory tree in our front yard that leaned out over the driveway toward the street. Its growth pattern over the years had been influenced by the big white oaks surrounding it. Our yard has mostly white oaks. The hickory was an intruder with high hopes.
One early spring day I was looking out my upstairs bedroom window admiring the determination of the lone hickory and our beginning to wake up front yard. Just as I was looking, the hickory fell with a few muffled moans and cracks. It landed across my driveway reaching a a few feet into the street. I saw the whole thing. It was as if the tree just gave up with a last gasp from a lifelong struggle to find a place among the towering oaks.
It was incredible that I happened to be looking out my dormer window at the exact moment that the hickory fell. Almost surreal. I was glad no one was walking up my driveway.
I felt empathy for the hickory tree. For many, sometimes life is too much struggle to bear. Some struggle mightily but then there’s some that are blessed with cruise control. God takes care of us when it’s time to die. Life is a circular wandering journey that can begin or end at every new beginning. ❤️
