An evening walk. A man. A branch. And something sacred in the air…
Last evening, my heart was warmed during a walk along the creek trail behind our house. I came across a man who, as I suspected, was grafting a small branch onto a tree. He told me it was walnut. I asked if he minded me watching.
“You are most welcome,” he said with a smile.
He explained the grafting process with gentle patience. Soon, a family passed by—two children and a dog in tow. Curious, they stopped. The man asked the children’s ages and the dog’s name.
Before long, we were all standing together, strangers now joined by quiet purpose. We agreed to watch over this little tree, to be its protectors as it healed and grew. In that moment, the simple act of caring—for even a small tree—had drawn us close.
I asked the man if he lived nearby.
“I’m just a humble immigrant,” he replied.
Somehow, without trying, the conversation brushed against the topic of the political chaos south of the border. We didn’t stay there long—just acknowledged it quietly and returned to the tree.
“This tree will grow and flourish,” he said, “because nature does not wait for the world to make sense.” And he was right.
A Tree with a Message
The walnut tree, as it turns out, carries deep spiritual meaning. It is a symbol of wisdom, patience, protection, and regeneration. Its fruit—hidden beneath a hard, unyielding shell—reminds us that truth, like healing, takes time. That beauty, like connection, sometimes begins in silence. That something small and ordinary—a tree, a branch, a moment—can become extraordinary when met with care.
In that evening’s light, a grafted branch became a shared commitment.
A man, an immigrant, a family with children, and me—standing under the open sky, rooted in something tender and true.
Empathy bloomed…
A Prompt for Awakening
“When was the last time you felt quietly connected to a stranger—through nature, kindness, or a shared moment of care?”
What did it reveal to you about the world… or yourself?
May this simple story be a reminder that you are already connected.
Sometimes all it takes is a pause… and the willingness to witness something grow.
Join the movement toward conscious connection and care.
Visit IAMday.org to learn how we’re nurturing a new kind of world—together.
“This tree will grow and flourish,” he said, “because nature does not wait for the world to make sense.”
What a beautiful qoute and a perfect metaphor for life!!
We can spend so much time waiting for life to be fair life to make sense but it waits for no one! Time moves on! And we only have so much!
I love this article you did an amazing job writing it!! The richness, the warmth it gave me the warm and fuzzies!!
You're writing just keeps on getting better and better, with sweet layers of emotion and Truth stacked on top of each other. Like Baklava dripping with flavor. Amazing Story delivered in a simple yet meaningful message.