Lightning Kiss
Trees that dare to grow on precipices and peaks subject themselves to strikes from the heavens. The same is true for those who go against the flow, stand up for the disenfranchised, share truth from the heart, and speak for those who don't have a voice...nature.They are often lightening rods for the critics, the naysayers, and those with ulterior motives. Stand tall, stretch into your truth and what you stand for. You make a difference in the world and are expressing what you came here to do, and be.
I've often been drawn to the Standing Ones who reside on hilltops and outcroppings. They usually bear the signature bark evisceration that will wound, but generally not kill them. They continue to grow, to wear the badge of courage and set themselves up for future strikes.
Isn't this reflective of those who stand up for a position or truth that runs against the grain of the majority? To challenge the status quo, call a person or company out when they are being unethical, challenging authority when they are abusing their power, speaking up for the disenfranchised, or standing up for nature who doesn't have a vote or the ability to represent itself. It takes great courage and potential lightning strikes in the form of losing jobs, being excommunicated from friends and family, or being labeled as clueless, sentimental, against the American dream, or part of a cult. These are real threats to our soul and survival, and yet many still take up the stand, and risk these pains so they can save their souls and stay true to their integrity...wholeness.
What happens when you sell out just a little bit? When you start making excuses for your actions or choices. When you say things like, "Well, if I don't do it someone else would, so I might as well benefit." Or what about the excuse of, "I did it for you, or I needed to compromise to get..." It is so difficult to recover from these seemingly innocent and justifiable actions, because we can rationalize and justify to everyone else but ourselves. Inside, we know the truth. We know we compromised our core and with that comes shame, which may eventually lead to additional decomposition of our integrity because we have been breached. From there, we may further spiral down because we begin to believe that we are evil, broken, and deserving . We can see this in the media on a daily basis.
It takes so much courage and tenacity to stay true, regardless of the consequences.May you be the lightning rod that changes the world and inspires others to follow suit.
