
It seems simple enough, a tree with a backdrop of clouds. It is simple, but it’s so much more at the same time. This tree is in a neighbor’s backyard and when I sit outside it is a main focal point. From season to season the tree changes, from bare to covered in green leaves to tints of red and orange.
On days like the one this photo was taken, this tree and the masterpiece painted in the sky are reminders for me. The simple beauty reminds me that beauty is everywhere, often hiding in right in front of us. We just become numb to it, a blindness that is easily cured.
I’m filled with gratitude for nature, an enduring reminder to slow down and open my eyes and my soul. I’m also thankful that nature reminds us that change is inevitable. It helps me recognize that the discomfort of trying new experiences is normal, but shouldn’t stop me from expanding horizons. Dormant seasons are normal, but so are seasons of growth. The past few years have felt like the dormant season and I feel the push of new growth beneath my skin, down in my soul. It’s scary in some ways, as change from the familiar seems to be. It’s also exciting and necessary.
Enjoy some nature time! It’s good for the soul.