Aloft, high on a mountain summit in Yellowstone, often lost in clouds, these magnificent trees cling, and continue to Be, to and in, pure stone.  Battered, blown, by powerful winds, frozen in Time in Winter, warmed again by Summer sun, they proudly reach up to the sky.  Quenched by storms of rain and snow, nourished by the pure air, they are fed a special Spirit into their hearts and limbs. Their roots, fairly dancing on the rock, paint a portrait of the coexistence of a Living, breathing thing with the Cosmos.  For hundreds of years, these incredible trees have strived and survived all that Nature has chosen to befall on them.  To stand before these gnarly old sentinels, is a humbling experience.  If, but a tree, is able to exhibit such strength and courage, can't we?

When captaining the ship, flying the plane, riding the rock, that is your life . . . consider thus: Learn to think independently, and remember to remain independent.  Refrain from meshing with the multitudes when your grip on the course begins to falter at times.  Never allow yourself to become so enmeshed in the 'navigation' principles that you cannot take alternative measures when faced with 'rough weather'.  Rigidity is a stranglehold.  Flexibility is the knife that cuts you free.

Accept nothing as absolute.  Reject everything that would close doors to more of Something.  Always remember that every answer leads to more questions, and when you cease to question, you surrender, succumb to mediocrity, you cease to really live.  Desire that there will be others to share your insights, your quests.  In fact, strive to share the truths you discover.  You, The Earth, The Universe, depend on it, the new awakening to awareness of the Divine Image housed in your physical self, and the dancing roots of a tree.

In learning to love unconditionally, love only what has no conditions.  Love more, but remember not everyone desires to receive that love.  You love by your own choice.  It can be rejected by another's choice.  No matter, love your choices, but be prepared to live with them.

And, when you climb a mountain, sit awhile, peer around and below.  Kind of nice to rise above it all. Beautiful, this place, this realm, when viewed from above, or lying in a meadow amongst the flowers . . . the big and the small of it all.  Call it mediocrity maneuvers.  Oh yes, bless the ones that ride the skies and frolic in humble oceans..

Photo taken in July 2000 in Yellowstone National Park atop a mountain in the Canyons, where the forces of  Nature come full force on a living thing that coexists with the elements.