New Growth

One year ago my job was eliminated.  Last Saturday was the anniversary of being escorted into the Executive Director's office and told I was not needed.  In spite of time and effort to work through my grief, it still has been a heavy anniversary that needed to be honored.

A few weeks ago the Spiritual Directors International sponsored a Contemplative Retreat at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico.  Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev led a small group of us through periods of sitting meditation balanced with contemplative time exploring the landscape around us.

The last morning had a thick layer of clouds, muting the light.  When Nahum sent us outside for a contemplative walk, I started up the trail up to Box Canyon.  I had traveled 30 minutes up the trail then turned around return to where the group was gathering. 

Alongside the path there was a large juniper tree, with a massive trunk, lots of twisted gray wood and only a few branches with foliage.  Its half-dead condition was like so many others I had seen along the trail.  Yet, there was a remarkable profusion of bright green and yellow sprouts coming out of the trunk hear the bottom. I stepped off the trail to look at it more closely.

As I pulled up the camera and took a few exploratory shots, a bright column of sunshine broke through the clouds and lit up the tender branches.  The green became more intense, the yellows shining with the warm light.  I shot from several angles before the sunlight was stopped by the clouds a minute later.  I offered a prayer of gratitude and felt deep joy.

Although much of the year was spent grieving what is dead, I recalled and began nurturing a different part of myself.  Significant knowledge and skills had been rejected by that former workplace.  In my old wood, I found new and tender growth emerging from a deep internal source, cautiously reaching out into the harsh world.  New growth was emerging from seemingly dead part of myself. 

This is my new image for growth into a new life.