Life Force

A year ago this week we were buried in snow after a few days of epic storms that hit the mountains throughout California. This winter turned out to be as expected, “warm and wet” -(I can’t remember now… Was it “El Nino” or “La Nina”?) As we roll into March, I see signs of spring again. My daffodils have been peeking through the ground for a couple of weeks now, and buds are coming out on my plum trees.

During my recent meditation retreat, I would walk the trails in the small patch of redwood forest in the back of the retreat center. With so much rain, the ground and all the vegetation were quite moist. I was quite mesmerized by all kinds of mushrooms, moss that cover the tree trunks, and all “other little green things” sprouting.

Sometimes I forget about the “life” and get so preoccupied with whatever the situations and circumstances that are presenting themselves to me whether it’s the work, relationships, health or whatever, for which I may be in illusion of having control. Yet there’s a way in which life happens under the perfect conditions between cause and effect like these organisms growing and dying even when nobody’s looking.

When my teacher, Gil, told me to “trust the path,” I think he meant, “surrender to the way things unfold” rather than holding on to my own idea of what the path should look like. There’s a flow of life beyond my control, and I need a reminder everyday.