Everyone encounters buffetings, or challenges, in life. We often get frustrated, or don't understand why we have to deal with these things. Wouldn't it be nice to know what purpose they serve? And how to deal with life's buffetings?
Vander Veer Park, 8:29am
This is the third part of an ongoing conversation. The first two meetings were with a huge ginkgo. In our first meeting, she talked about who we are and how how prosper in life.
In our second conversation, she talked about waking up, or enlightenment, and sharing our light.
In the first meeting, she mentioned dealing with resistance in life. In the second, she specifically talked about the stage of dealing with buffetings. (Buffet = to strike repeatedly)
The ginkgo mentioned the stage of having sprouted above ground, which then involves buffetings. Specifically, this was my question and her answer:
"Please tell me more about the stage of buffeting, and of emulating the light. What are the buffetings, and how do we navigate them?"
"Ah, yes. Wise question. I feel that I am not the one to answer that for you. There is another who will add that part to the story."
Today, I have come seeking the answer to that question.
We are beings of light
As always, I start with a prayer, and then express my desire to the tree.
As I pray, I give thanks for the beautiful morning, and for having the trees nearby.
I see strands of light within the tree, growing along its truck, entwining with each other, winding together, as they start at the base of the tree and move toward the sky.
The tree begins. “Trees are beings of light. They emulate the light because they are continually growing and expanding. Light moves. It seeks. It expands. It shares. It finds.”
“You are light. You must seek, move, and expand.”
The purpose of life's buffetings
“Buffetings appear as blockages. Things that would stifle growth. Things that stall, derail, and detract."
"However, all buffetings appear for one purpose, and one purpose only. To increase strength. They serve to help with growth. They are necessary for growth. They only derail if you succumb.”
"How does one find strength to bear the buffetings, to get through them?"
“Strength comes as you allow more of what you need to be gathered to you."
When strong winds come and move a sapling, it causes changes within the phloem. These stresses signal the tree to bring more nutrients, more fibers, more of whatever is needed for the tree to grow and resist. To develop strength.” (Nerdy research article about this process.)
"Ah! It is like the stresses that gravity and impact and movement places on our bones and tendons and muscles."
“Yes, I suppose it is very much like that.”
"This seems quite clear, when you explain it in this way. I find that a common response to these buffetings is frustration and resistance. What would you suggest so that we humans can allow what we need to be gathered to us without becoming frustrated?"
How to deal with life's buffetings
“Well, it is a choice. All things are a choice."
"How do you perceive what is happening to you? Do you see it as a blockage, or as an opportunity? Or as a blessing?"
"Please remember who you are and why you are here. You are here to learn and to grow. Flowers and trees don't try to stop the winds. They simply move with them.”
“Do not fight what is. Can a tree stop the winds? Of course not! You cannot stop the buffetings. All you can do is choose how to respond to them."
"What choice can you make that will allow you to continue moving, to be strengthened?”
I have learned that trees don't feel the wind, but I ask, do trees ever tire of the wind?
The tree chuckles. “We do not know what it means to tire. We simply are.”
"Why do we have so many competing thoughts and voices in our heads? When I choose one thing, one way of seeing and thinking about a buffeting, I find that other voices want to change my path. Ah! I see. This is in itself part of the buffeting, isn't it?"
The tree chuckles again. “Yes, yes it is. We do not experience the voices like you do, because we do not choose. But I suppose, yes, the voices give you another opportunity to choose.”
“Please remember that for you, in your sphere of growth and life and time, everything is about choice. You are.....oh.....I am sorry. This is not for me to share.”
Remember who you are
"I understand. Thank you for your time. Is there anything else you have to share about buffetings and becoming stronger?"
“Yes. Remember who you are. It is very important for the upcoming days. It is important for all that you do here on this earth. For you and for all. You must remember who you are.”
"Who are we?"
“You are the daughter of a King! A child of the Most High God. Born and made with love. Always with love. Never with anything but love. Love, love, love! Remember the love."
"Remember the love as you experience your trials. Seek for the love in the midst of your buffetings. It is always there. You will see the hand of your Creator as you seek for the love.”
“When a tree is moved by the wind, it doesn't change course. It simply keeps growing. Do likewise.”
Finding peace in our challenges
I know how difficult it can be to have patience during our trials. I have spent much time developing patience and curiosity instead of frustration. How much can we learn to allow and accept? The more we learn to go with things, instead of fight against them, the better our experiences will be.
We can't change what is. But we can change our perception. And we can change our thoughts and our actions, with the intent of creating something different.
Finding peace and remembering that love can be difficult. The true source of peace is Christ. He is our rock and our Redeemer, offering solace from the storms of life. I know that when we look to him, he will comfort our souls and teach us how to navigate whatever buffetings we are facing in life.
