Climbing Trees

I was telling my bestie yesterday that when Betty (the kitty) gets out, she hides in the front flower beds.  If we try to get her back in the house before she is done smelling the roses and watching the birdies, she hops right up in the tree and goes as high as she thinks she can.  Then we try to pick her up and she rabbit kicks and "screams" a really loud meow.  It's quite funny, actually. 

Have you seen the movie Flipped?  Juli loves a giant sycamore tree and wishes that her crush would follow her high up there...and all he can think of is how he can avoid the tree, and her.  I think there are some that avoid climbing the tree so they avoid what they really wish they were...less risk, less risk of failure...less risk of being turned down or hurt...less risk of criticism...  Don't climb...don't risk.  One of my favorite quotes of the movie was from Chet :  "Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss; but every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare." An old friend told me just yesterday that it looked like I had finally (professionally) gotten my life together and had things in order.  A blow...that they didn't see me for my originality, but as "not together." I always have had it together, I think, just as much as anyone, ...but out of the box; I am the maverick; the one that tries to be different, the one that some don't see as iridescent, but one that would stand out and might cause them to see or do or work differently. The one with the weird idea or the simply entertained but creative one in the crowd...but not the one you put in charge.  It's funny though, that I am. In charge. Of my own happiness, my work, my life. And sad that they won't climb the tree.

Sometimes I climb to escape the anxiety that has plagued me for years, (although well under control and I know how to handle it) and I know how the wind in your face (like riding your bike) and fresh air renews your sense of being and provides a clean outlook to go back in and finish whatever is daunting, covering and squashing your ability to stop and enjoy what is happening in the moment; you are renewed without  worry as to what will or will not get done, what has or has not been said...  I don't know that it is ever really an escape, but a sense of well being and tolerance... the ability to cope and continue on and forget, because what is present and beautiful outweighs what fear or unknown might try to take it's place.

Up in a tree you have the perfect view of the immediate area around you; a sense and picture of what is going on below that you are a big part of.  How you belong there and how it has replaced a set where you didn't belong.  You are closer to God, closer to your purpose, and closer to how He meant for your life to be.  In my tree I see that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, trials and all, joys and laughter, silly and serious, love and friendship, worry and relief...contentment.  Not to say that it's all a cake walk, it just all makes sense.  "A painting is more then the sum of it's parts. A cow by itself is just A cow. A meadow by itself is just grass, flowers. And the sun peeking through the trees, is just a beam of light. But you put them all together and it can be magic." (Richard, on Flipped) 

Magic.