Endurance is what we need to face the trials from economic turmoil, political strife, wars, natural and made-man disasters... and our own faux pas! Those without endurance will become like the flat-leaf trees and lose it all until some future springtime comes to revive them... if they last.
For nearly everyone, life itself seems to have passed the point of surreal. It is hard to find one single direction to look where things are still very stable, secure, where all is well.
There are lessons in nature that are as profound as they are simple to learn.
Imagine for moment that you’re a talking Evergreen Tree ... living amongst the ordinary (talking) flat-leaf trees. Every autumn, you would probably make some comments to your flat-leaf tree friends about how pretty their leaves look, but it may also come with a warning to them too. You may say, “Every year you guys love showing off and strutting your stuff... and getting all fancy! But, then before you know what hits you... you lose it all! You’re left shivering in the cold without a single leaf left on you. You just never think about the future, do you?”
Evergreen Trees clearly got the right stuff. They endure to outlast the ferocious elements of winter. Hence, we’ve given them a special place in our homes on one of our major endearing holidays.
As well, gold is also used as a metaphor for a noble character. Like a heart of gold or even the Righteousness of God. As a metaphor, the image of a solid gold Evergreen Tree would speak about your endurance to outlast the trials in your life.
Long ago, Minneapolis Artist, Bill Whalberg and I had a conversation about the enduring legacy of Evergreen Trees. Within days, he presented to me the painting that you can see as the graphic with this article. It does not even come close to his best work ... but, it has forever served me as a reminder of his friendship and the conversation we had... making it priceless to me.
Bill Whalberg has also become a master at gilding in gold. He’s got the right stuff for it ... a strong sense of authentic humility and purposefulness to maintain the dignity of the gilder’s historical legacy.
You can see two samples of commissioned projects of his gilding here or go to his blog here.
Stay tuned...
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