Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Revealing Your LuminEssence

Being Deeply Rooted

Last updated on: January 2, 2017 at 12:05 pm   by Carl Studna

Being Deeply Rooted 2017-01-02T12:05:20-07:00 Carl Studna

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As we move into the winter season, I’m looking out of my office window gazing at thousands of pine trees swaying in the gusty winds. The potent sound of these gusts can be heard swirling around the house sprinkled with the whining vibration of the wind trying to make its way through the cracks of the window framing. The power of this elemental force is so turbulent and it gives me an unsettling feeling inside.

(c) Carl Studna

(c) Carl Studna

I then place my attention on one of the more mature and taller pines and choose to gleam some wisdom from its actions. I notice that amidst these potent and powerful winds, its branches remain pliable as they boldly sway from side to side.  Its roots are strong and deep, giving it the strength to remain solid and unmovable.

I love gaining wisdom from the natural elements and see this example as a useful metaphor during these times of great change taking place in the United States and throughout the world. I certainly have felt many passing moments of fear, concern and disbelief throughout the past few months watching the dysfunctions in our political system and the hatred blatantly expressed throughout sectors of our society.

I can’t say that I’ve come to a consistently clear resolve, but I have found a stable and sane place to plant my feet and stand strongly. Just like the mighty pines amidst the potent winds, we have the ability and the opportunity to strengthen our roots and remain pliable amidst the tremendous changes around us. This is the time for us to strengthen our daily practices that keep us deeply rooted to the truth of our values, our purpose and our essence of love.

Now more than ever, it’s essential that we begin each day knowing with certainty that we are all made of the same basic stuff, all deriving from the same DNA. I’m placing my attention on embracing our differences, while standing strongly as an ambassador for love. I’m clear that it is through our differences that we see the various facets and outlooks that compose the whole. This doesn’t mean being airy-fairy and passively accepting actions, statements and values that don’t support the whole, based in greed and separation.

We are in a paramount time that is calling us to be more attuned than ever to speaking out and bringing our unique gifts to the table, truly being the change we wish to see. Whenever we’re feeling discouraged and depleted, we have the ability to reconnect to our vital and unmovable roots and trust that our branches can sway with the mighty winds of change, while our core remains solid.

As the sun gently begins to set below the mountains and the winds are tamed through the passage of time, I wish you a most peace-filled new year that uplifts and illuminates your soul.

Daily Practice

Expression

Inspiring

carl studna

choose love

daily practice

empowerment

fear

love

photography

revealing your luminessence

unique gifts

Previous Post



May 25, 2016

Explore and See Anew


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bridging the Gender Gap Daily Practice Devotion Expression Faith Inspiring Photography Self-Care Stillness Travel Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2017 May 2016 February 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What natural disaster did God use to destroy the earth in Noah’s time?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Earthquake Famine Flood Fire

Related posts from Revealing Your LuminEssence

New Visions

Explore and See Anew

Revealing Your LuminEssence

New Visions

What If Today Were It?

Revealing Your LuminEssence

New Visions

Perfection amidst Imperfection

Revealing Your LuminEssence

New Visions

Sculpting Your Life Masterpiece

Revealing Your LuminEssence

TRENDING AT PATHEOS New Visions

Did Prayer Cure His Cancer? Or Was It...

At 4 AM one morning, Joshua W. Brown’s wife awoke to a...

8 Ways a Near-Death Experience Rewires the Soul

Does Consciousness Survive Physical Death? After 50 Years of Research, Dr. Raymond...

Holy Longing: What Our Restlessness Is Telling Us

“One can find so many pains when the rain is falling.” -John...

The Making of a Dumbass

  What this is NOT about.  This blog is definitely not about...

Who Told You That?

Who said the Israelites were God’s chosen? That’s right, they did. Who...

The Spirit World Is the Real World: God...

A Monk’s Wisdom on Body and Spirit I sit with Brother Martin...

view all New Visions blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube