Hope Springs Anew

     When everything seems to be going wrong or falling apart everywhere we look, it can be quite discouraging.  But something that we must understand is how often it is that when things are falling apart, they’re actually clearing the way and preparing us for something new and even better than what we currently have.

     A few months ago my neighbor chopped the beautiful eucalyptus tree that was over 100 feet high and older than me practically in half, leaving no branches or sign of life left, merely a tall stump standing about 50 feet tall.  This beautiful tree was a great place for my bird relatives to visit, from hummingbirds to hawks and crows, and since being chopped, not only did it look merely like a gigantic stick sticking up in the air, but no longer did they come to visit me quite so much due to losing one of their main places to land in and spend time.  This was quite depressing for me.

     But then I began to see things a little differently. I could see more of the beautiful sky and clouds and my bird relatives flying when they swung behind where the branches used to be, hiding them from sight.  Then, after awhile, green leaves started to appear on the stark tree. And then, there were a few times the crows or hawks would actually land on top of the tall stump, one day with a pair of hawks staying there for over a hour.

     I began to realize how symbolic it was that despite being reduced to almost nothing of its former glory, it was almost as if this beautiful eucalyptus tree was being reborn, bringing a new hope to light.  Also around the same time, a single bunny started visiting me, affirming the message of new hope, growth, and change.

     Often when we are going through challenging times and a loss, that’s all we can see.  But we must remember that there’s always a reason to have hope.  Sometimes, we must simply clear the old to bring the new, whether it be new leaves or new animal visitors or friends in our lives.  No matter how challenging things may be for you right now, never give up.  You never know what lies just around the corner and what’s going to spring into your life & flourish, bringing hope anew.