The Bamboo Tree

Sr. Antonia Cooper, No. Plainfield, NJ

The bamboo tree …
holds within itself
the reality of both
polarities –
strength and
surrnder.

Being aware of
these “pulls”
within my life,
as I had
experienced them,
a sense of
peacefulness and
groundedness has
somewhat
calmed the tugs
between the two.

The lesson the
bamboo tree
has been teaching
me is to
embrace both
within.

The yang of
strength
compliments
the yin of
surrender …
and in the
surrendering,
we experience our
center of strength.

They are not
opposites at all,
they coexist,
harmonize,
balance
and give life to one
another …

and to the person
who welcomes
them with an
embrace.