See God in All Things. Saving Our Locust Tree.

Posted June 10, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Yesterday we had a tree service company come look at our locust tree. We noticed this spring that part of the trunk has a pretty good split down it. With high winds that came through Monday afternoon, it split even further. I was on pins and needles hoping it wasn’t going to break off and land on my writing cottage.

This tree has been here a long time — pretty much since we moved here about 28-years ago.

It has shaded our deck and my writing cottage, provided wind on warm days, and held a swing from one of it’s branches where I enjoyed many moments of relaxation. Not to mention, all the birds that love to sit upon its branches!

Mike, from Woody’s (yes, his company is called Woody’s!) noticed a hairline split in the major trunk of the tree which we hadn’t even noticed. His advice was to take the whole tree down.

“No! We can’t do that,” I said. “I love this tree.”

After a bit of discussion we’ve decided to just remove the major split in the secondary part of the trunk of the tree and some other branches to ease up on the weight for other areas of the tree. For now he used ratchette straps to hold things in place until he can get here in a few days to trim it.

We hope by doing this that the tree will be around for a few more years.

I even said to Mike, “Do you think if we just love the tree a little more it will last longer?”

He said, “Well, you can certainly try that.” I don’t know if he was just playing along with me — or perhaps thought I was a bit nuts.

But I’ve really come to love trees over the years, even hugging one last Christmas as I had the urge and didn’t care if someone saw me. I just had to hug that tree!

A part of me felt a bit silly later on last night wondering if perhaps I’m a bit “out there” feeling so attached to this tree.

This morning after I practiced my yoga on the deck, looking up into the locust tree, and standing facing it as I did tree pose, I picked a card from a new deck of cards I have by Caroline Myss called, Wisdom for Healing and this is what it said:

See God in All Things

“Put yourself in slow motion, and observe everything and everyone through the lens of “This is sacred and it speaks to me.” How does that change your environment? Your goal: to learn the spiritual practice of seeing God in all things.”

And so it is. This tree is sacred to me and it is my friend. And I will help it be the best it can be and love it for as long as it has left on this earth…

Because I do see God and spirit in this tree.

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If Today Was My Last Day on Earth

Posted June 9, 2015 by Barbara Techel

If today was the last day on earth where would you want to be?

I’ve heard that question on and off over the years. I thought about it again today.

And this is exactly where I’d want to spend my last day. Right here at home, on my deck with my Prince Charming, Kylie and Gidget. This is, without a doubt, my happy place – my sanctuary.

When I got up this morning, I opened up the patio doors and could here the birds singing. Summer is in full swing and it is absolutely glorious.

My heart burst with contentment and joy as I thought about how much I love my life. And it’s truly all the simple things that make my heart sing.

Flowers blooming, birds chirping, Kylie and Gidget snuggled in their favorite spots, the quietness of the morning, the hum of a lawnmower in the distance, birds splashing in the bird bath, the smell of fresh air.

Life is good.

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Frosted Face: Aging Gracefully

Posted June 7, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Raindrops fell this morning as I sat next to Kylie looking out the front door, her fur extra soft after she dried off after being out in the rain earlier this morning.

Every now and then I notice a little more frosting on her face, slowing spreading to all corners of her still puppy dog look.

She is so beautiful. Frosting becomes her, as I think it does all dogs.

There is a lesson here — to embrace our own sprouts of gray, too.

Yesterday afternoon I noticed our neighbors taking down their gated trellis that had been there for years. I always loved when the gate was open — as if an invitation to a secret garden.

Standing near the lot line I said to my neighbor, “Oh no, no more gate?”

“No. It was getting rotten and encroaching on the tree.”

“I’ll miss seeing the gate open.”

“It’s getting old just like the rest of us,” she said.

I felt this heaviness as I smiled and walked into my backyard.

I’ll be 52 next month and my neighbor is only a few years older than me.

Wait a minute, I thought. I’m not getting old. I’m choosing to age gracefully.

With that shift in choosing my thoughts I felt lighter and empowered.

And as I sat in stillness with Kylie this morning, oh, what a precious reminder she is of just that.

To embrace all the gifts of aging gracefully.

The gained wisdom.

The freedom to stand in one’s truth.

The slowing down.

The taking in of what really matters.

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