On a hike with my daughter, Carolyn Blasko, I came upon a tree that used its body language to tell us its life story. When the tree was a mere sapling, it was bent over by an event it does not remember. Maybe it was a strong wind, a heavy snowfall or a rambunctious moose. Whatever the cause, the tree found itself lying horizontal to the forest floor, but its roots were securely anchored in the soil and it was still alive.
With the trunk no longer able to extend up through the forest canopy to capture the life-sustaining sunlight, several branches took over the role of being substitute trunks. The branches changed from being simply branches to becoming important breadwinners, stretching themselves beyond their comfort zone to compete for their share of sunlight. As straight as an arrow, they reached toward the sky, keeping the tree alive.
Where the top of the fallen tree touched the ground, one branch also became a new root, ping into the soil to obtain added nutrients. The tree was flourishing because several branches had stepped up to take on added duties. The tree was battling back against all odds because a few branches had taken on new responsibilities. Despite being knocked over, the tree was continuing to be a contributing member of the ecosystem.
This tree is a good example of how plants are remarkably resilient. They can make necessary adaptations in adjusting to changes in their environment. This tree can also be an inspiration to anyone who feels overwhelmed by adverse circumstances. We might be knocked over, but not knocked out.
My daughter and I stood there amazed as the tree used its body language to tell us its interesting life story.
