Tree Rings

The Nature of Hope

Tree rings tell a tale. They tell the story about the life of a tree. Every year, the tree lays down another ring of growth.

Were there times of drought and disease? Those rings will be tight and narrow. Were there times of ample water and plenty of nutrients? Those rings will be fat and wide.

But trees also tell their tales centuries later. Art historians can date paintings on wood by testing the wood. And the same is true for buried ships.

I thought about these tree rings when my sister asked me to write a eulogy for her. She's not dying and she's not even sick. But it was for a class she was taking at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

What tales would I tell? Would I focus on her business accomplishments or her personal life. And, what will people say of me when I'm gone? What if I was hit by a truck tomorrow, would my friends tell tales of fat, happy times of love and laughter? What do I want them to say?

We cover all this on today's episode, and how you can make choices to live a "fat tree ring" life, full of love and significance.

Also, I have an awesome poster to download for free. It shows a tree slice of rings and the scripture: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" in beautiful, fanciful calligraphy around it.

Get it free here: www.LaurieKehler.com/tree-rings.