April: On Nature
April 21
Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from Robert Frost's poem "Birches."
In modern times, it is the constant stream of news—of knowing every horrible event happening around the globe the moment it happens, coupled with the daily burdens of being overworked and underpaid, the stress of being responsible for the survival of others, all while battling anxiety, depression, and an ever-growing movement of oligarchs and extremism, that can make one weary of considerations and make life feel like a pathless wood at times.
Though, there is something beautiful about a pathless wood. It’s nature as she intended. There is opportunity in the ability to go in any direction, until you stumble upon a deer path, anyway.Sometimes, in following paths laid out by others, or even in carving one yourself, you may not like what you find at the end of it.
There is fun to be had as well in wandering the pathless. Climb that birch there, climb as high as you can until you’re off the ground and can see eye-to-eye with the birds, feel the winds fresh before they fall to the ground, and just get away from it all—before your weight becomes too much for the birch and it eventually lowers you down like a tired parent taking their child from atop their shoulders.
The people of Earth can and will make you weary, but they will also fill your cup. After all, it is the right place for love—where is it likely to go better? Yes, you could do worse than here and now, being a swinger of birches.
