The Man In The Tree

In July 2024 Dave and I began our annual trek to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.  You know from previous issues how much I love the Rocky Mountains and Wateron is an annual event for us! 

Enroute we stayed overnight at the Eagle Valley Park Campground and a tree was right near the door of our trailer.

As I looked at the tree trunk I could see the face of a man in it.  I asked Dave to look at the tree and asked if he could see the face.  He couldn’t.  As I looked at it, I could see the two eyes (about an inch down from the top of the photo).  Two long vertical lines defined the nose.  The mouth was underneath the nose and then there was a long grey, pointed beard.  I could see the face clearly, though, to be honest, I didn’t see him until I took a moment to pause and really look at the tree. 

As I looked at the man in the tree, it was a reminder to me that when I go to Waterton make sure to pay attention, look around and really see things.  To be present in the moment.  I may see things that other people won’t. 

On that trip to Waterton I lived my best life!  For four-and-a-half days we hiked, canoed, kayaked and paddle boarded.  The weather was perfect – hot and sunny – and every day was extraordinary.  I soaked in every moment, was present, kept my phone in my pocket (except for the occasional photo) and enjoyed every single second.

Above is a photo Dave took up at Bertha Lake.  It’s a hike to get up there, but once at the lake the view was stunning and we simply had to do the 4 km easy hike around it.  It was spectacular!  From the shore (when we arrived) the lake is gorgeous but as you go around it, you discover that it goes much further back than we originally thought.  We saw much more of the lake going on that hike than we would have simply by viewing it from the shore.

If you look at the photo it looks like we are standing inside of a cave, looking out at the lake.  But take another look; it’s almost an illusion.  Dave took this photo at the top of a rocky outcropping, looking down on the water.  The photo is of the water and the reflection of the mountains on it.  While it looked like we were in a cave, it was something entirely different.

Is there anything in your life that might require a change in perspective?  Is there a situation you are seeing a certain way when there might actually be a different/new/more accurate way of seeing it?

Do you need to pause and take another look?

Can you see something that others might miss?

Recommended Resources

-          ABC News video of a baby seeing his mother’s face clearly for the first time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAMKUYy3aVQ

-          Toddler seeing clearly for the first time with her new glasses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plCOPfl8Tgo

Monthly Challenge

-          Think of one situation you have encountered where you thought you were seeing it 100% clearly and then you realized there was another way to see it.  What did you learn?