Letting Go…

Learning from the Beech Tree

Much has been written about letting go. But there is no greater author than Nature to show us how— to teach us how and the why of letting go. We need only to learn from the leaves of the Beech Tree.

Yesterday, I sat with the Master Teacher, a great and well seasoned Beech Tree. This beauty stands outside my window and it is front and center when I sit at my desk to write and study.

This species is the last to let go— the last tree in the forest to releases their golden leaves.

Here was my invitation to learn from the tree a lesson that the retreat on Celtic Christianity that I signed up for was all about.

The odd thing about my time yesterday, was that I participated in an all day long Zoom retreat. It was filled with excellent, pertinent and goose bump producing truths— all of which I loved.

Something bigger was going on though that Zoom could not contain.

I was fixated on the Beech Tree that was pregnant with a truth I needed.

But, over and above my laptop screen of my computer, stood the tall, Master Teacher in all her glory. Her regal, bright yellow and fiery orange leaves draped against the clear blue skies. Something was happening. My invitation was only this: to become curious.

I said:

“I am here.

I am listening.”

I placed my hand on my heart to gesture respect, awe and submission. I sat in silence— a silencing that the zoom retreat even offered me for fifteen minutes.

Then, this poem came flowing out as if a fountain had been turned on within me.

Of course I’ve RE-worked it— improving the original. It’s ready now. It’s ready to let the poem go out into the world and falling wherever the Wind blows it. Make of it as you will!

This is about letting go.

This is about not forcing good byes.

This is about learning how to let go of people, places, beliefs and things as the Beech Tree does.

In the right time.

In the right way.

Here’s my poem and this poem, as most of my poems are, are intended for my Subscribers who choose to support my work. Everyone gets this far on the Substack… but from here on, there is a path that you choose; you decide to take with me.

Thank you for your consideration!