Treehouse! Why the name?
Perhaps this is fuel for a conversation as you decorate your Christmas tree.
There are three types of people in your life cycle, Leafs, Branches and Roots/Trunks.
• The Leaf people are seasonal; they will be there for a little while then gone. Enjoy them and the beauty they provide but accept they will transition and not remain attached.
• The branch people are more stable; they will be around for several seasons and grow along with you. However, when the pressure really mounts upon you, they can break away and that process creates a need for healing. Again, cherish the branches; hope they will always remain; treat them with kindness but retain your own spiritual core as you grow.
• The Trunk/Root people. These are the most important. These are the relationships that will stand with you forever in your lifecycle. These are the steadfast. These are the source of nutrition for your life of growth. These are the people who strengthen your purpose, bond forever and will never relent. In the world of natural creation, God is present here.
In the natural world any natural element that does not give more than it takes will not survive. God created everything this way for a purpose.
If a plant takes more nutrition from the soil than it provides, it will die. Natural growth becomes a system of giving more than taking. Abundant harvests are contingent upon fertilization. Relationships are built the same way. If a person takes more than they give, eventually the relationship will die; eventually the giver cannot survive without reciprocal nutrition. This is the natural law of our Creator.
A life of abundance is only possible when you give, when you choose to fertilize others. If you spend more time taking than giving, you die (on the inside first).
The man who says, “I can’t” and the man who says, “I can”, are both correct. The difference is what they put in their mind, and then ultimately manifest.
When you pray thankfulness for both the abundance and the challenges in your life, He hears you.
Be strong!
♦ When you pray for courage, God does not make you courageous. God does not zap you with a feeling of instant invincibility. Instead, He creates the opportunity for you to manifest and show the courage that exists within yourself. When the opportunity is presented, be courageous.
♦ When you pray for wisdom, God does not make you wise. God does not zap you with new mental synapses that generate different thought sequences. Instead, He creates the opportunity for you to manifest the wisdom that exists within yourself. When the opportunity is presented, be wise.
♦ When you pray for patience, God does not make you patient. God does not zap you with a feeling of peace, stability, assurance and calmness. Instead, He creates the opportunity for you to manifest and express patience. When you are challenged by the opportunity, the choice to be patient and calm is yours.
♦ When you pray to be a better person in the life of others, God does not make you a better friend, colleague, spouse, father, counsellor. God does not zap you with the respect of your peers, the love of your family or friends. Instead, He creates the opportunity for you to express your best self, to build up, cherish, help and give to those you care about. When presented with the opportunity, be your best self -GIVE- the rest will follow.
Live your very best life by being your very best self.
You deserve it!
Love to all.
From the trunk of the Treehouse,
~ Sundance
Bedrock – pebbles – dirt.
Which ones do we want to elect.
Which one do we want to elect,…to BE (I think was more along the lines of what Sundance is saying?)
Thank you Sundance much love and appreciation . blessings to you and yours be well
R.D
Amen. My feelings exactly.
When you give with no expectation you reap JOY!
🙂
Your timing is impeccable, Sundance. Thank you!!
I second that!
And I third! Uncanny how just when you need the message, the message comes. I will share this, and then share it again.
Thank you.
Sundance, that is a lot to chew on. Introspection takes time and sometimes, a lot of work just sorting out the noise. The reward is precious.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you Sundance!
An awesome comparison to the “Tree” thank you for all of your wisdom!
I thank God that I was introduced to you years ago, and that I have had the opportunity to share your work with others. God bless you and yours.
December 7, 1941. Lest we all forget.
It seems many have forgotten. You are the first and only person of the day that I have seen or heard mention it, outside myself.
I find it disturbing that no one seems to care or remember. May all the souls of that day be resting in peace.
Thank you so much for saying something.
A wonderful write and true words. God bless you and those of the tree.
Well pass the tissue that was beautiful.
It came to while reading the passages that leaves can turn into branches which helps the tree grow.
Also:
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 | NIV84
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
I do my best to avoid those people who are scheduled to ‘transition’
Nice! Recommend reading Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us by Matthew Sleeth because, as Jesus said, a tree is known by its fruits.
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There’s comfort in seeing that I’m not the only one with fears and concerns in our current situation, nor am I alone in thinking that in the end, we’ll prevail…..and that comfort comes from the people here; that comfort is my own “invincible summer”.
Thank you Sundance and everyone for creating a community for the like minded!
Thanks as always for such inspirational words, Sundance! Nice hanging out with you.
Happy Hanukkah or Merry Christmas, whichever applies.
These days I feel as if the only trunks in my life are here at “our” Treehouse.
Thanks and blessings to all, and have a Merry Christmas, especially you and yours Sundance.
MAGA
Beautiful ⚘️
Politicians are leaves without the beauty.
Weeds, briar patches,..crab apples,…nope.
I really can’t think of anything in nature, comparable to a politician cause even a warthog has a certain beauty, and everything in nature has some use…
They are involved in the story but animals are not us. My sister is a vet in Zambia. Try living there, you will arm yourself.
They are the blight.
Jeremiah 10:3-5
My fascination with trees started at a very young age. I used to hide in the top branches of a huge tree and fall asleep for a bit during playtime cause I was very much a loner and could amuse myself.
As I got older in life, my search for info on those trees blossomed to the point I did a search online at the bible study website for ‘tree/trees’ . (Try it and you will be so amazed and you venture through the whole Bible.) So a very interesting comparison in good & evil trees happened, I ventured into J.R.R. Tolkien and I discovered Ents!!! -> Mar 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
So I went to a curious website called Today I Found Out and found this:
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE TREE THAT OWNS ITSELF
https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2020/02/the-curious-case-of-the-tree-that-owns-itself/
Athens GA. I used to park near this tree and walk in to work as I refused to pay a monthly parking fee at the University of Georgia.
Blessings on you and yours!
Rev. 2:7 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
The River and the Tree of Life
Rev 22:1-5 ¶ And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
The time to sharpen the saw has clearly been worth it, SD. Thank you for these posts of encouragement.
Retired Magistrate here: My earthly “trunk” is my husband who has stood by me through 35 years of one chronic health condition after another. He has come to ER rooms to tell me jokes while I was getting blood transfusions, given me shots with tears in his eyes because he knew he was unintentionally hurting me, carried me into the ER when I fell and broke my hip, put up with me when my other hip went out due to severe arthritis, comforts me with regard to my failing brother, who has ALS, and has always been there for me.
My other earthly “trunk” is my amazing brother, John, who is still fighting to stay alive after living with ALS for 2 years. He has survived 6 bouts of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, a-fib and other problems. However, he still thinks about me on my birthday and Christmas and somehow manages to convey to his wife, through eye blinks, what to send me for those occasions. At times I am blessed because he can grunt a response to me and often I understand what he is trying to say.
Of course, my forever trunk is my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, who will never leave me or forsake me.
I feel like I know your brother from your post. I will remember him in prayer and also you and your,” trunk”🥰🥰
Marcia…you are an amazing and strong woman! Blessings don’t always come as we would want, but they are there. Praying for the health of all, on your branch and at the trunk.
What a lovely post Marcia. Thank you.
Marcia: Reading of your health issues and especially those of your brother, a song that I had not thought of for some time popped into my head. Perhaps you already know it, but if not, search “Mercy Now” by Mary Gauthier (writer and singer). I enjoy your posts and wish you and your family well.
Dear Marcia stay strong in the Lord and he will be with you always. We here at the Treehouse love you in the Lord and Pray for you always. I know things are hard, but your reward in heaven, along with your entire family is something to look forward to
I lost my dear mother a year ago and it was very painful and I also lost my oldest son four months ago and it is very hard. I am a very strong Christian, and certainly believe in the Lord absolutely and I know we go to a better place.
Great analogy, Sundance. Thanks, again.
Many thanks to you Sundance!
The movie The Shift is worth seeing. Playing now.
Amen!
Thank you Sundance.. perfectly timed as my spirit was lagging. You are so right. That’s how it works with the Lord.
Be a trunk! Loved the added writing too. I’m renewed again.. ready to be a giver and a kinder, gentler dragon slayer! 🌟
God bless you for that.
Thank you Sundance, more than you will ever know. This came at a time in my life when I needed it. The storms of life have taken a couple branches off and battered a few. God’s Blessings to you,a faithful friend in the storm of life..💞
I do not believe in the power of prayer.
I believe in the power of our God, who solicits our prayers and promises to hear every one.
For those of us that are fairly healthy ,it should be not be taken for granted. I have much gratitude that my wife and I are fairly healthy .I appreciate the fact that my parents emphasized that material things could always be replaced but arms and legs cannot.
As bad as some of us may think we have it,listen to others and you will discover that many have it much worse.
Pray,help others and be grateful.
For some reason this post brings to mind the song Get What you Give by the New Radicals…
Thank you Sundance – peace to you and yours always!
Sounds like God punishes us for praying for his help, and that we have to do it all ourselves anyways.
Not a punishment at all, Jim. He gives us what we need and then He gives us the opportunity to use what we have been given.
A trophy given to a runner who has never entered a race means nothing. But those who have worked hard and trained for the day are justly proud to be on the winner’s block to receive their reward when they run a winning race.
I am in a tough place emotionally today. You will never know how much this post helped me. Thank you Sundance.
Beautifully Stated. Again! Thank You.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Sundance, at 73 years young, this is a MASTERPIECE in my humble opinion! So apropos! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! What you give, is returned three fold! Life is full of cycles/happenstances and threes are common! A trinity, if you will!
Very wise council. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas to you and your family. May the Lord protect you
I don’t have and have never had anyone in my life that fits into the trunk/root category even though I have tried to be that in other peoples lives. I’m a person that lives by “My Word is My Bond” but unfortunately it is far too often a one way street. There were people that I thought were root/trunk friends but in the end none of them stood fast.
That’s a rough road through life to have to travel; I know from experience myself. Giving what you didn’t get is a Spiritual assignment; your brief comment lets me know you’re fulfilling the assignment admirably. May God’s Blessings be abundant on your House.
Thank you for your kind words, I have been alone now for 25 years so I don’t hear a lot of them.
So… I’m going to say presumptuous things, offered in the spirit of upliftment; either chastise me or ignore me if nothing fits, as per usual with all unsolicited advice.
You *must* speak kind things to yourself often; there is a lot to be said for – and many advantages to – behaving like one’s own best friend. Only you know what you like best, want most, & Truly need, so you are the one person in the world best qualified to give it (Truth, Beauty, & Love, etc.) to yourself. Consider it another Spiritual practice – just as you consider giving Truth Beauty, Love, kindness, reliability, & loyalty to others a Spiritual practice… put yourself on that list of receivers much more often than you have been. I can attest that it shrinks sadness and fortifies appreciation for life in general… which increases daily Joy.
Even more fundamental (and it makes the above easier & infinitely more effective) I have also found that EFT (EFT Gold Standard (Official) EFT Tapping Tutorial | Official EFT Tutorial | English ; free, DIY, & simple to learn) is the best process/practice for neutralizing past traumas imprinted in one’s CNS; those low frequencies, which hold one apart from that which is good/ better/ best, must be neutralized so that higher frequencies instead can become dominant/the norm of one’s core signature frequency; the low frequency patterns are often invisible as, it seems, ‘normal’.
When the CNS has a dominant low-frequency charge imprinted from trauma ((something(s) painful happened that shouldn’t have happened AND/OR things that a Human needs to thrive didn’t happen; especially during early development but anytime at all)), it becomes part of the ‘blueprint of self’ and carries the dominant magnetism/resonnance of that low frequency as a “calling card” so to speak; “That which is like unto itself is drawn” is a Universal law. Like resonates with like.
EFT is a way to change the dominant frequency of one’s calling card so higher frequencies can resonate as ‘normal’, both internally and with ‘like’ from the external world; more good stuff is more easily accessible all the time. Get that low frequency out of the way so something(s) much better can dominate in it’s place.
“If you wish to understand the Universe, think of energy, frequency, and vibration.”
~ Nikola Tesla
“Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.”
~ Rumi
You deserve to hear kind words & feel appreciated every day;
and may God’s Blessings Be Abundant on your House.
Thank you for taking the time to post your positive message. I am happy with myself and my situation such as it is. I live remotely on a large property full of wildlife and have regular visitors from the animal kingdom right at my door. I have previously done a lot of energy work with both crystal and hands on therapies but it is very taxing dealing with people that claim they want to get better but won’t put in the work. I still will help people in need but have accepted that there is always the chance that when the situation is reversed there will only be me and God there that I can rely on. I hope you have a wonder filled Christmas surrounded by loved ones.
Thanks for your kind reply. Good Gracious, I love hearing about your remote home & surroundings – it sounds like a haven. Well done arranging that.
The energy work I’ve been Guided to find & learn has been my healing path (way of life); I know many scoff and deride energy work as ‘woo-woo’ and that’s fine with me… there’s never a crowd on the leading edge, and I’m not a fan of crowds.
I understand your frustration with people who, as you say “… want to get better but won’t put in the work….”; at some early point I was taught (and fortunately I was able to integrate, with some trial & error I admit) that I’m only assigned/responsible to offer what I have because it’s appropriate for that individual who’s asking at that time, and their receptivity & willingness isn’t up to me, but is rather in accordance with their Divine Contract. A Contract which I’m a small part of… as they cross and travel with my path for however long… so their outcome is up to them & God not me. My imperative is to do whatever I can – be clear, hold the light, & share what I know – as I’m Guided in every now moment with every individual or group. I’ve had a few stay with me and free themselves; others have got what they needed from me & moved on with various degrees of progress; all are successful to the degree that’s appropriate for their Contract; everything is perfect somehow even If I don’t know how. That nullifies the tax. I’m happy & Blessed to share what I’ve learned & been able to benefit from myself; I’m Grateful to have been of some value to others; it’s always a win-win.
I’d like to believe that’s all True for you too in the realm of your work with others – that you are appreciated in ways you don’t, and might never, even know. You might see possibilities and whole timelines for people they cannot see, or even imagine, themselves; not seeing someone complete their healing journey doesn’t diminish the necessity & great value of what you gave; I hope you can feel the Truth of that.
I agree that God is all we can ever really count on, beginning middle or end; *His Will be done*is the most reliable alignment.
I appreciate your wish for me – I am surrounded by a handful of important, Beautiful & Precious people, so it will definitely be a wonder-filled and sweet Christmas (as is every single day otherwise). I’m Grateful every minute of every day that He has me where I am… so Thank You; will do.
I also hope you have all that is required & desired for a deeply Joyful Christmas – and life every day otherwise in fact. Blessings on your House aussietrev.
Keep it up. Quite simply you are the lesson that you have been looking for.
I will confess to not decorating a tree since Trump was robbed.
I have a retro silver tinsel one already prelit, and I just plug it in. Can’t be bothered to get out my traditional one and decorate. The whole Biden era is utterly depressing! I spend my time praying while tending the garden.
Blessing to you and your family Sundance.. Merry Christmas be safe, be happy and keep the faith
Demo rats – termites
Very nice thoughts… I need them, these days…. thanks Sundance!
Thank you Sundance.
Some trees are single stem and some are clonal:
Pando (Latin for “I spread”)[1] is a clonal organism representing an individual male quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) that spans 106 acres and is both the largest tree by weight and the largest tree by landmass, and is also the largest known aspen clone. Pando was identified as a single living organism because each of its stems possess identical genetic markers.[2] Each of its estimated 47,000 stems (ramets) are generally connected by a massive interconnected root system that coordinates energy production, defense and regeneration across its expanse.[3] Located in the Fremont River Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest along the transition zone between of the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range[4] in south-central Utah, United States, Pando lives 0.43 miles west of Fish Lake, the largest natural mountain freshwater lake in Utah.[5]
The Pando aspen is an organism that is 9000 to 12000 years old.
Our American patriots are also an organism, an idea of individual liberty that is hard to kill as each new generation reaches for the sky.
Sundance thank you so much for this. I read it to my husband tonight after I lit the first candle of Hanukkah. It meant a lot to him as he is going through a bit of a rough patch after surgery on his foot. Thanks again for all you do for us.
Here’s a steadfast tree for the occasion. Climb — A tree strives upwards against a hillside. Photo taken by me years ago on a nature trail in Northeast Ohio.
I’ve been kind of down on trees for about 2 months, but earlier I made the last 2 piles of leaves that I will pickup tomorrow. So thanks for reminding me of their beauty!
Trees are a good metaphor.
Even more Beautifully Bcsteve… fallen leaves are Nature’s way of fertilizing & nourishing the soil… use them for mulching other plants/beds, OR pulverize them where they fall (with a lawnmower or a shredder) and cease & desist “picking up leaves”.
Instead of working against Nature, study Permaculture & start allowing/helping Nature to work for you.
In all cycles of Nature, waste = food.
“Movement, change, light, growth, and decay are the lifeblood of Nature”
~Andy Goldsworthy
I just mow them over in the back, Amara. In the front the neighbors get pissy when “your” leaves blow into “their” yard! Thanks for the quote!
Leaf mold is gold for the soil.
100% I see all those leaves piled up at the curb, and I think… what a waste. I snatch up quite a bit to throw in the garden. Breaks down over the winter and makes the best soil in the world. No weeds introduced, no chemicals, and the worms absolutely love it. You can have absolutely terrible soil and within two years of using leaves, your soil will be ridiculously good. With the uncertainty going on, everyone should make an effort to have a garden and to grow as much of their food as they feasibly can. Don’t wait until you have no choice. It takes some practice and trial and error to get decent at it. For instance, beginner tip… don’t use grass clippings. Lol, I spent the next two years weeding for hours each week.