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Once in a while, I receive wisdom on the human
condition from a
specific aspect of nature. These direct transmissions have consistently
helped me weather the changing tides of fortune and emotion in my life.
It was a crystalline
winter afternoon. I was walking with my friend Ted through the snow
seeking solace from the fatigue and despair we were feeling about the
seemingly endless stream of challenges in our personal lives. Our walk
ended with us lying on the snow in the center of a stand of young, bare
birch trees. The sun was blinding, but soothingly balmy as it reflected
off the stark white, tender bark of the saplings. The welcomed warmth
eased us into a relaxed, receptive state. We asked the spirit of the
slender fledglings for comfort and
guidance to meet the hurdles placed before us.
The unaffected, fresh energy of the virgin trees shared a
message about innocence:
“If you return to a state
of innocence, your life will be much easier. The majority of humans are born with natural
innocence, openness and trust. For a
few years you enjoy a period of grace during which life is
simple, direct and pure. Later, as
you gain experience in life, you encounter dishonesty, abuse and
betrayal. You become wary, jaded and disheartened. But at one point in
every human life, an opportunity to return to innocence is offered.
“If you should choose to
re-enter the state of innocence
consciously from free will, this openness can never be lost or
taken away—as was natural
innocence. When chosen innocence is fully embraced, you are free
of judgment, expectation, all conditioned
beliefs and restrictions of the past. You
have no limits whatsoever. Living in chosen innocence allows you
to enjoy your real self, your true power and the only genuine
reality—the present moment. The
present moment is the space of magic, miracles,
transformation and total supply. It is the path to enlightenment
and peace.”
Ted and I didn’t believe
the birch trees. On that emotionally
woeful day, we couldn’t imagine ever feeling good about life
again,
let alone being able to enter into a
permanent state of innocence, openness and joy.
Some years later, I
experienced a moment of striking clarity
during which I remembered the tender message of the young birches.
I realized I possessed the desire and the power within me to choose
freedom from preconception and evaluation regarding every aspect of
life. I reached a level of spiritual growth in which I was able to
comprehend the great advantage in approaching each day—each encounter,
each moment—with freshness, newness and innocence.
On that day, I chose to be
innocent again and live in the gift of the present. And as the young
saplings promised, I’ve never lost that quality, that space, that grace. |
