A Small Piece of Heaven

 
A new view of a situation is just what we need to answer a difficult question or see something we’ve been missing. 

There is no greater way to escape the troubles of daily life than to ascend into the welcoming embrace of a tree house. Like a bird in its nest, we feel held and safe in the branches, cloaked within a curtain of green leaves. Here we can breathe more freely and think more clearly — our hearts and brains fed by the oxygen released by the leaves. We float above the everyday world of the ground, enjoying a bird’s-eye view of all that remains below.

We may choose to be alone, or we may invite a special friend to join us. Either way, this is our private world, and we get to decide who comes and goes. It is our haven where we can be fully who we are, shed the masks required by the world below, and reveal our most hidden secrets, dreams, and desires. It is also an ideal vantage point on the life that continues below the branches. Often, a new view of a situation is just what we need to answer a difficult question, solve a challenging problem, or see something we’ve been missing. It is as if we have ascended into the heavens and are able to tap into a higher awareness. We can draw on this airy energy to revitalize us, relax us, and feed us new ideas. When we descend, we are ready to enter the world again, cleaner, clearer, and more inspired.

If you haven’t been in a tree house in a while, now may be the time to make one for yourself or find one you can borrow. If you can’t find or create an actual tree house, think of other venues that could provide the same experience — a rooftop perch, a quiet spot in a grove of trees on a hilltop or a light-filled attic. Or just close your eyes and visualize yourself ensconced in your perfect home in the branches of your favorite tree.

The Sun Is Always Shining

 

If darkness has fallen, know that the sun is shining at this very moment, somewhere not too far away.

 

There are times when gloom or darkness causes us to momentarily lose sight of the light. It is at these times when the thought of the sun can help us. Its warm, glowing rays brighten even our thoughts, and it’s good to remember that the sun is shining right now. We may not be able to see it at this very moment, but if clouds block our view, they are filtering the sun’s light only temporarily. If darkness has fallen, we know that the sun is still shining somewhere not too far away. It’s only a matter of time before it will shine on us again.

When we remember that the sun is shining, we know that things are still in motion in the universe. Even if life feels like it is at a standstill, sometimes all we need to do is have faith and wait for the time when everything is in its perfect place. Or we can choose to follow the cues of the sun and continue doing our work and shining our light, even when we can’t see results yet. In doing so, we exercise our patience, making sure we are prepared when opportunity knocks and all other elements are in their right and perfect places.

The sun also reminds us that our own shining truth is never extinguished. Our light shines within us at all times, no matter what else occurs around us. Though the sun gives us daily proof of its existence, sometimes our belief in our own light requires more time. If we think back, however, we can find moments when it showed itself and trust that we will see it again. Like the sun, our light is the energy that connects us to the movements of the universe and the cycles of life. It is present at all times, whether we feel its glow or not.