Recently I took pictures of ceibo trees in the fields near our home in San Clemente, Ecuador. I intend to do a complete blog post showing some of these unique trees in the near future, but Jake of” Jakesprinter”, http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ has a weekly challenge soliciting pictures on certain themes and this week’s challenge is, “Surroundings.” The challenge got me thinking of one of the pictures I had taken of a small cactus, virtually surrounded by an ancient ceibo tree, so I decided to answer Jake’s challenge with those pictures and a poem that seems to fit the theme.
First some background… San Clemente, Ecuador is located on the coast in the middle of Manabi province. There are several large rivers that run from the mountains across Manabi, but as far as rainfall is concerned, the province is a desert and is the driest of all of Ecuador’s provinces. Farms and orchards fill the river plains, but the hillsides are populated with ceibo trees, cacti, and some other desert shrubs.
The farmers clear every acre of arable land that has water available and plant all manner of vegetables. After each crop is harvested, the farmers clear out the old stalks with controled fires and replant. The ceibo trees are hearty and fire-resistent and live through the periodic fires while other trees and shrubs burn off. This ceibo tree was on the edge of a field of onions. The field was still smoldering from a burn-off as I walked up to this tree:
If you look closely you will notice a small cactus nestled in a deep groove next to the ceibo.
I wondered if that cactus had the ability to think if it might have lamented over its’ bad luck at having to live surrounded on three sides by a gnarly old tree. Perhaps he wished he had a view of the east, south, and west instead of only having the narrow northward view of an old onion field. Perhaps he wished he could grow taller and feel the cooling breeze out in the open field. I wonder if he cried out complaints to the other cacti or cursed providence for his unfortunate surroundings.
Whatever negative thoughts he may have had about his surroundings before that morning, I bet he was happy as could be when the fire raged through this field and all of the other cacti in the open field were burned and died! Suddenly his surroundings seemed pretty good to him and he learned to appreciate the safety afforded by the big old ceibo tree. I’ll bet the view suddenly looked mighty good!
I cannot blame this propensity to personify plants on my old age. The following poem demonstates that I was talking to trees and thinking about what they “think” way back in 1989 when I was transferred to Southern California and had to endure a two hour commute to work each morning down the dreaded 91 Freeway.
Please enjoy the following poem that reminds us that one’s charachter does not need to be molded by one’s surroundings.
Bloom Where You’re Planted
A magnet on my mother’s fridge taught me long ago
That I can’t choose the circumstances of how it is that I should grow
A picture of a lonely flower growing up along the road
“Bloom where you’re planted!” was the message that it told.
Years later I moved to Southern California with a daily long commute
From my home in MorenoValley on the 91 Freeway route
Traffic always crawled to a stop between routes fifteen and seventy-one
I had lots of time to think about where my journey through life had come.
I used to dream of mountain roadways where I could own the road
And simpler days when life did not require carrying such a heavy load
At times I’d engage in self-pity about my sorry lot in life
While bogged down on that noisy road amidst such pain and strife.
On one such day I crawled along and looked down at the median divide
At the space between two guardrails separating six lanes on either side
In one small crack I saw a palm tree growing up there through the tar
Literally choking on the foul air spewing from ten thousand cars.
I thought that palm would have no chance to get enough root hold
And surely it would fade and die before it got too old
I’d maneuver to the far left lane in hopes it had made it through
And together we would share some time as we’d greet the day anew.
For almost three years I watched that tree grow up there through concrete
And I marveled at how it grew and grew and would not admit defeat
It could have given up and complained to a supposed loving God
But, instead it simply flourished against unlikely odds.
It simply bloomed where it was planted and was glad to be alive
That palm taught me a lesson there on my daily drive
God knows what’s best for me today and what I must go through
I’ll let Him supply the soil and water, while I just try to bloom!
John C. Macdonald, Sr.
October 21, 2010
Thank you Jake for this Sunday’s challenge. http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/
buen trabajo! very good work! i loved the story of the ceibo and the cactus. the tree appears to be cradling it as if it knew what they’d have to endure.
the poem is lovely. thanks, as always, for a great post!
z
LikeLike
There is a lot to be seen and learned by walking up close to three hundred year old trees! It does seem like the ceibo is protecting the little cactus. Thanks for the comment – Hope to see you soon
LikeLike
I love the story as much as the photos!
LikeLike
Thank you! I just visited your site and enjoyed the thoughts on Veteran’s day.
LikeLike
Beautiful entry John for this week theme , Thanks for sharing your stunning Images matching with your very inspirational story ,I love it 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the challengs! This week’s challenge got me thinking and ended up brightening my day.
LikeLike
I love this poem dad. Good one for us all to remember the great lesson from it. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thank you Missy. You have always been an example to me of the power of a positive thinking! Keep smiling – Dad
LikeLike
I knew as soon as I saw the pic that that cactus was snuggled in there for a reason. 🙂
LikeLike
Indeed, as is usually the case… The trick is learning to be patient until the time comes for the reason to be revealed. “Be still and know that I am.”
LikeLike
What a lovely poem and a fantastic story!
LikeLike
Thank you, JoAnn.
LikeLike
Awesome poem John!! Thanks.
Nancy Osowiecki
LikeLike
Thanks Nancy…how you doing? Did you hear about Brent’s loss?
LikeLike
Beautiful poem….I really enjoyed it. Each and every day is where we are supposed to be at that moment. Living in the moment~
LikeLike
Thank you. We are blessed each day we live.
>
LikeLike