As I sat at lunch today sulking over my butterscotch pudding and watered down French vanilla cappachino I stared out the window of the college cafeteria. Being winter outside the landscape shows nothing but snow, mud, and empty branches. And empty brown branches were all that I could see. In my sulking grouchy demeanor this damn bush pissed me off. It was a tangle of wiry bare branches seemingly knotted together, set on tying themselves up into oblivion. The stupid bush was huge. It took up the whole damn window. I mean I couldn't even see the side walk two feet in front of the bush to people watch (I'm so nosy haha). I stared at this damn bush that had the audacity to grow up and block my window. I watched as the thin feeble branches quivered in the wind. None moving together, yet all moving at the same time. Even the stronger older branches that appeared still at first glance were swaying slightly in the wind. I looked closer. these branches were not tangled in a mess of mishap, but were growing and reaching in a greater design. Each branch striving to gain it's own spot in the sun. Stretching to catch some of the warm bright rays. Some of the older thicker branches were ripepd off seeminly from an uncaring hand. Others were neatly trimmed by a knowing hand that saw overgrowth or desease in the future. These stubby branches had irritated me at first. But once I looked, really looked, at them I realized that without those losses the bush would not be what it is today. Perhaps it would have become too overgrown and would have been ripped out completely. Or perhaps it would have been taken over by pestialance. But it wasn't. It was saved by those losses. I began to compare this bush to my life.I would be the center branch of the silly bush. The larger older branches are my family and closer ones who have been steady and constant in my life, growing with me. The new wiry branches are the other people who have come into my life more recently. Each branch not randomly and sporatically growing but each reaching and yearning for the warm spring sun to help it grow. I thought of the brokena nd trimmed back branches as the many people who have came into my life and left again. I thought of the people who I have lost. Because I cannot see the greater picture of my life (as with the bush) perhaps I had to loose those people so I could grow healthy and strong. And strong. Each summer flower and autumn leaf a personality trait of a special memory with a specific person in my life. Each winter a rough time that is necessary for the coming spring. Every branch a part of a beautiful intracate design. An art form that I have over-looked. I saw how some branches had many other branches stemming from it while others had only a few. I thought of it as how each person that comes into my life brings with them those already in their life. Some people come with many friends and large families. Others come with only a few. But each are just as important. As I stared and stared at this stupid, ugly, knotted mess that wa blocking my side walk view I stopped wishing I had choose another seat. I started admiring the design and beauty of this growing bush. I have seen the bush in the warmer seasons. It is truly beautiful, each leaf and flower radiant in its own splendor. I realized that I had picked the best seat in the whole cafeteria. And I smiled.

-kln-