It was the gorgeous pine trees that always made the winding road one of my favorites to drive. When fire stripped the leaves, burned the bark, and left only the blackened form a tree, my heart hurt. It seemed a constant reminder that so much had been taken from our community during that fire, homes, dreams, and beauty.
Today as I turned one of the tight turns, the blackness of the trees was overshadowed by an incredible bright yellow covering the ground. The sight was stunning. Since I was driving, I did not know immediately what made the ground such a beautiful color. Each person in our car remarked about the beauty. Our daughter recognized that it was sunflowers growing tall around the trees. She made this observation, “I don’t know what it symbolizes that the flowers have overtaken the trees. But it means something.”
Many ideas could be created from new life bringing beauty to what had been destroyed. It could mean many different things. On this day when our country is remembering and mourning all that was lost on September 11, 2001, my spirit tells me that this gorgeous view was a reminder that, in time, beauty and good will triumph over ugly and evil. It means to me that a million flowers, all growing together can grow so well, so tall, and so lovely, that they eventually overtake even the darkness of the burned trees.
There is evil in this world and there will continue to be tragedy, sadness, and anger. There is also much good in this world and there will continue to be beauty, kindness, and hope. Our job is twofold: First, we need to spread goodness, beauty, kindness, and hope. Every single chance we get, we should treat others with grace, forgiveness, and kindness. We should look for opportunities to serve and help those around us. We should share with others the hopes and ideas we have for making the good overpower the evil. Second, we need to readjust our focus. For so many years, my focus was the trees, today it was the flowers. If we can somehow find a way to focus on that which brings us joy, on that which is delightful, and admirable, and lovely, then eventually they will overshadow those things that cause pain.
There is nothing positive to be found in hate, and bitterness, and fear. Though these emotions are impossible to completely rid ourselves of, let us put our focus and our efforts into combating hate with love, bitterness with understanding, and fear with confidence. Sometimes it is hard, and sometimes it is work, but it is always worth it. And some days, you simply turn a corner and realize that without even being aware, beauty has overtaken the scars.
Leave a Reply