Once while I was on one of my many adventures to Oregon I went out to Mount Hood to kick back in the outdoor hot springs.

To get to the hot springs one has to hike about three miles through some of the most beautiful woodland territory these eyes have ever beheld. While walking the trail in solitude, one can't help but be overwhelmed by the power of nature to show forth it's beauty and grace.

While walking my attention was drawn to all the trees that surrounded me. As strange as it seemed it was as though they had a message for me, hidden in a melody that was sung as the wind blew through their branches. As I looked and listened, a wondrous though engulfed me. Each tree that made up the forest had within Its Self all that was needed for the fulfillment of Its expression.

All the beauty that was the tree came from within Its Self. The branches, the leaves, the cones, everything the was the beauty of the tree was released from within the tree. The thoughts keep coming. No tree in the forest had a need to take from any other tree in the forest. No branch on the tree was in conflict with any other branch on the tree, there was total corporation, that lead to the majesty of the tree, and each tree in corporation with every other tree leading to the beauty of the forest.

I finally made it to the hot springs, filled the tub and continued my communion with nature. As I a floated in the steaming water I gazed up at the trees. I was thinking (probably the same thing you're thinking now) what's this got to do with me? The thoughts continued.......... Within my Self as with the trees, all that is needed to show forth the beauty and majesty of Life Its Self is provided. The trick was openness and corporation. Just as the branches of the tree corporate with and for the Life of the tree and forest, I need to corporate with the flow of Life that passes through me, and the flow of Life that comes to me through others.

I really learned a lot that day listening to the trees talking in the way they do to those who will listen. I thought I'd share with you what they said to me. The thoughts of that day as I made my way back down the trail going home, was not much unlike the leaves that blew by head from time to time, free, flowing, coming from somewhere unknown going to a destination also unknown.

©    Lester F. Schone, Jr. 1996