While on my latest trip to Alabama for my newest tattoo I stopped in Tennessee for a while and came across one of the most beautiful Osage trees I have ever seen. It was straight and large and had big fat growth rings. It was perfect for making Hunting bows. In one 6 ft section alone there were probably 10 bows in it. I desired it.
But before I went and took it without thinking, or feeling or connecting to the ramifications (as our consumerism society tells us), I settled in and asked the tree if it wanted to become beautiful hunting bows. I asked it if it wanted to help humans remember their connection this world. I asked the tree and the forest if that was what it wanted. Almost immediately I felt it’s response in my body, “yes, as long as you don’t play small when you teach.” The message resonated through my body and tears welled up in my eyes. “Ok tree. I promise not to play small. Thank you for your life”.
I started working on cutting this tree with the only tools I had at my disposal: a small axe and a small folding hand saw. These were not the ideal tools for the job but they would do...maybe. I was too excited to worry about my tool selection. I had enough excitement around the tree that I knew I could power through it eventually.
The tree had challenged me at the start of our encounter (“don’t play small”) and it’s felling continued to challenge me. After 2 hrs of sawing and chopping (Osage is so hard that it dulled my axe) the tree started to topple only to get hung up on another tree. After much deliberation, I eventually went to the store and purchased better tools for the job: a come-along winch and some wedges to split the beast once it was down and cut free. Through the rain and another 2+ hours of work, I finally dropped the tree enough to be able to cut the other end of my desired section. After another hour of creating yellow-golden saw dust litter the gray forest floor, I had finally freed the beast. However when I went to pick up the log, I realized that it probably weighed 500 pounds or so. I could barely drag it for 5 seconds let alone get it to my Subaru a half mile away.
So I improvised. And I rolled it. In the rain, over hills, through creeks, for a half mile. It took me 2 hours. I was determined.
There was a lot to learn from this adventure but the easiest lesson that came from it was “pursue your passions.” If you follow your inner excitement and joy you will have energy to do anything. I felt so alive while I was struggling with that log.
Do what you want to do in this life and follow your aliveness. This world needs you to be alive.