Look at a tree trunk of a big old tree and imagine what it would say to you. Imagine how long it has stood silent there, its roots going deeper, its limbs going wider, and its crown growing ever higher. How long this silent tree has stood a sentinel for the world, never complaining no matter what the weather, content whatever the weather, content whatever birds sing in its leaves, content no matter who or what climbs it.

And you who have legs to walk, who are not rooted to one place, how easy it is for you to walk away, and you, unlike the tree, have one complaint after another coming out of your mouth. You can get out of the rain, and still you may complain about it. According to you, heat, sun, stormy weather, are all alike in the sense that they are all complainable.

Trees are more like the little lame prince in the story who couldn't run away. And so he became very strong.

You may ask, given the choice as you are, how do you know whether to be the tree that stays no matter what or to run with your legs? How do you know which to choose, when to stay and face the music or when to leave and get out of the fray? How do you know which to choose and when?

What can I say but to make a choice, beloveds. You don't always have to run away. You don't always have to stay. You do need to require yourself to make a choice. Whichever choice you make, come out strong.

Just as you don't swim in the water in freezing weather, nor do you stay where it is too cold, nor do you always leave or stay when it gets hot. It is up to you. Ultimately, everything is up to you. Don't think about your choices so much. Go by your inner guide, and make your choice work.

You who can make choices in life stand in an enviable place. You are a decider of which fork in the road to take.

Sometimes choices are made for you, and sometimes you have to make them.

You can go uphill or downhill. You can stop and go back. You can really do anything at all that you want to do, and sometimes things you don't want to.

Whatever direction you move in, whenever you stay still, have in mind that you are moving forward. Even if you step back, stepping back can be a step forward.

Whether you stay still like the tree or fly like the birds, you are moving forward. Birds do not fly backwards, beloveds, nor do My children. Oh, yes, I know, it seems so to you.

Even if you lose all your money and your house, you are moving forward. You can be sure that you are moving. Even when you stand still, you are moving. The whole field of relative life you live in is movement. When you occupy the same house, you are nevertheless moving. You go in and out. You open the door and close it behind you. You leave the house, and you enter the house. If you never leave the house and merely go from room to room, you enter and leave. Even if you are bedridden, you open and close your eyes. You look up and you look down and sideways.

And when you are sleeping, you are awake, for you breathe in and out.

Innumerable are the choices you make every day. You are the stalwart tree, and you are the bird that flies.