Standing strong against the elements

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2022 (1347 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For this column, I return us to one of my favourite places, located on the outskirts of River Park South, and known as Henteleff Park. Many in RPS will be familiar with this oasis of nature, which is accessible and enjoyable at any time of the year. Those in the expanded readership area of the Community Review East are encouraged to make the trip to investigate, explore and enjoy the trails through the park and along the river directly across from the University of Manitoba.

Secreted away along one path is a unique tree I’ve been keeping my eyes on for years. Despite an appearance that suggests otherwise, it is still alive, as evidenced by the leaves you’ll see way, way, up high. Squirrels roam its branches, woodpeckers search it for food, and I’ve seen an owl sitting on a main branch, looking down at the forest.

On windy days the tree sways and creaks in rhythm to the gusts of wind. When the trunks move in opposite directions, and the space in between widens for a moment, I wonder when it will all be too much. One of these days I expect to find that the sight that greets me will be very different than the one in the photo. I’d love to see its root system; clearly a well-supported one that has protected, nurtured and fed the tree for a long time, and which anchors it extremely effectively.

Through a global pandemic, I counted on the tree staying just as it is. No matter what Mother Nature threw at it, it would bend, adapt, adjust, accommodate, and ultimately survive, a metaphor for COVID-19 and its impact on the human world. Every time I see this tree, I’m reminded that what doesn’t break us can make us stronger, offer important lessons, and encourage us to grow and deepen our roots to provide the foundation that will keep us upright when the going gets tough.

These last couple of years have been filled with metaphorical wind, snow, and rain, and people and communities have remained upright. Now, as we emerge from a storm of uncertainty, anxiety, and stress we can look back and see how we endured, developed resilience, and stayed strong thanks to the compassion and caring actions of people and communities. This is true not just in the time of COVID-19, but any time the strong and extensive network of roots we’ve developed, individually and collectively, will need to be relied on.