I don't believe in "just-so-happens" or coincidences. I think that everything, every person, every situation comes in due time, on its appropriate schedule and timeline. It all comes with its specific reasons and purposes.
It arrives upon when it arrives and stays for however long, however short it is meant to stay.
It embellishes our lives in its on unique ways. Adding essence, depth, substance and vitality in the crevices of areas within our lives we didn't even know existed.
It knocks us down, tears us apart. We are bruised, wounded, bleeding.
Look at the snow on the trees. On top of the branches, on top of you, it is harsh, bitter, cold. There is no sun for warmth. But can you see how the snow covering the branch is so magnificently beautiful during this short period? Can you see how you are being nurtured with the snow on top of you from the frigid cold wind? As the snow remains on you, and once the sun appears, melting it away, you drink in all the moisture that you so desperately needed? It quenches the dire thirst from the extreme dryness of the winter?
It enters deeply into the core, giving you vitality to begin the process of budding and sprouting new leaves and blooms.
Looking back, without the challenging and difficult snow and winter, would the tree become as vibrant and full of life as it enters into its next season of vitality? For us, without all of this, these, them....would we be who we are now?
And I think Marcus Aurelius says it so beautifully: