I am grateful for all I encounter in this life
But I bow in most gratitude to the difficulties.
Like stumbling upon a rock on a path,
They cause me to stop and pay attention.
Look, they say. Open your eyes and see what is here.
Then I remember to do so.
Oh, my walk is like this now?
I smile, breathe, and continue on.
I walked on the trail and saw
Amongst the usual plants and trees
A small sapling that appeared different.
This thing is not like the other things,
Thought I. But then I said
Stop and look again and see.
I did. Here is what I found:
Like the other growing things,
The little seedling grew from the earth;
The branches reached to the sky;
The wood was brown and the leaves green;
The sun and rain and soil nourished it.
This thing is utterly like the other things.
So with all, if only we look closely
With openness.