There is a tree at the park near our house that always seems to capture my attention when I pass by. I don’t know what kind of tree it is, only that it is beautiful, apart from other trees and different.
It grows tall and straight, alone in one corner of the large grassy area, away from the playground. After viewing it from the street almost daily, I decide to park and walk out across the grounds to get a closer look.
The low-hanging limbs beckon me to step beneath them, into a secret place…an invitation I cannot resist.
There is a hint of color in the fringy foliage as the season is changing from early fall to late autumn. I remember that in winter, this tree is bare. But, for now, it is gloriously laden with lacy branches and still mostly green. The sunlight filters through and casts heavy shadows. Brilliant patches of blue sky are visible through the intricate web of limbs.
As I stand beneath the canopy, a slight breeze rustling the leaves around me, I feel small and sheltered. An occasional car moves down the street and I think perhaps the drivers wonder what that lady is doing out there under that tree. I lament the fact that I don’t have a blanket to spread on the ground so I can sit, even lie down, and gaze up towards the sky. So, I just stand and feel the earth solid beneath my feet and the tree between me and the heavens.
I feel a joy that defies description grow deep within as I gaze across this park where I played many an hour as a child, seeing it with eyes filled with appreciation for the natural beauty that is found in everyday places. Simple places like this spot beneath the canopy of a tree embracing the coming season.
Welcome to the porch... 