Looking at the cherry trees starting to flower, I am grateful and I am worried. I am scared for them. Is it too early? What if we get another frost? They are not scared. They continue to open up, more today than yesterday. Opening up wider, spreading their petal wings. Soaking in the warm sun, holding fast against a cool breeze. The early ones already falling before so many others have even bloomed. But by blooming early or late, they prolong the chances of pollination. So for those that bloom early or late, they may not have much company but they are helping ensure more years of blooming. This is faith.
Faith is knowing that they are doing what they are meant to be doing and that is all they can do. They do not worry about what is beyond their control. As humans we can imagine what the future might hold. This is beautiful, but when we get stuck in the negative what if’s, we create worry for ourselves. We must recognize them and release them back to the universe, these worries are not ours. Holding them does us no good. We must hold onto the gratitude toward the beauty of nature. Recognize that nature is moving through its cycles, knowing that there may be imperfections but as long as each part does their part then we will move through another cycle and another. This is the beauty of nature, it’s perseverance, it’s complex interdependence.
Beauty is the quality place on the recipient of our appreciation. When we learn to appreciate all parts of nature and ourselves even the imperfections are beautiful. The gratitude towards imperfections gives me hope, renews my faith in a future filled with appreciation. So if I can remain grateful to the nature around me blooming, going through its cycles, this gives me the faith to do the same.