Everything Changes Tree

In the middle of the forest, 100 meters above the lake and at least 1.5 km from the nearest road, someone had carved ”everything changes” down the length of a dead tree.

Everything changes. That’s a truism, an absolute truth. Why bother carving it into a tree? In English! I was not only in the middle of a forest, but in the middle of Sweden.

One thing that changed was my frame of mind. I was on a contemplative walk on a glorious spring day along my favorite path around a lake when the writing on the tree captured my concentration. Why English? ”Everything” needs only four letters (”allt”) in Swedish. I assumed that a Swede hadn’t done the carving. Everything certainly changes for a foreigner, not least of all perspective along with the environment, the language, the customs… EVERYTHING. Humanity is the constant.

Could the author of this ”writing on the tree” have been an American? Could he (Shes aren’t typical tree-carvers.) have discovered that American exceptionalism lacks some basic attributes? Like the ”public rights” law in Sweden that permits anyone to go anywhere in nature? Or the holiness of nature as opposed to the worship of commercialism? Or that happiness requires nothing more than a walk on the wild (natural) side; that beauty need not imply bling-bling or the latest fashion? Or that a pine tree can speak more truth than a broad-smiled talking head?

Everything changes. Are we the subject or the object of change? Are we the victims or the winners of change. Do we listen to the holy force of life within us and do what needs to be done, or do listen to worldly powers and do what we are told?

Everthing Changes, a novel in two words, written on a naked tree. Author unknown.

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”A little difference can make a big difference.”
Dartwill Aquila

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The West Bank is now the Judea-Samaria area.