Within this silence, whispers spoken by the rhythms of nature carry personal meaning, re- vealing wisdom hidden from me by the connect- ed world I’ve temporarily escaped. My thought- less gaze settles on a solitary sapling growing from a crevice in the lakeshore rock. Within this little tree, I witness the sanctity of life. I feel a sense of sorrow for its imprisonment, wedged within solid rock. The opportunities for it to grow into a forest giant seem unlikely. Like many of us, this little tree is not just facing a life of challenges but is also firmly embedded within them. I begin to see within the tree’s di- lemma the wisdom in words written nearly two thousand years ago by the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius: “What stands in the way be- comes the way.” Put simply, the obstacle be- comes the way. The whispering of nature’s peace has helped me to understand the simple truths of these power- ful words. Would it not be better to grow from the foundation of solid rock than from within the softness of sand? Roots embedded within the certainty of rock can withstand the violence of storms. Through its struggles, this little tree will develop callused roots strong enough to split rock. The trials it endures on its voyage to the lake’s wa- ter will leave scars of loneliness that will become the beauty of wisdom. Struggle within the rock will develop resilience that will one day trans- form this lakeside sapling into a lake basin king.
Rather than impeding progress, the challenges, setbacks, and difficulties of life create opportu- nities for growth. Marcus believed that obsta- cles were not nuisances but rather a necessary struggle that would transform our mindset and help us grow stronger and more resilient. Struggle is not punishment, but an opportunity to grow into someone better than we are, into a forest giant from within solid rock. It is the ob- stacles, the challenges of life, not the comfort found in the sands of the shore, that give us cal- luses and scars, revealing individual truths that guide us to our authentic selves. That little tree will never be moved by the words of emperors, but instead lives the lessons writ- ten by mortal men. Long after my own life flick- ers for the last time and I dissolve back into the mist of the world, this little tree will rise to be- come king, not because of a gentle existence, but because its crown was forged in the fires of hardship. Each evening as the sun fades behind the moun- tain, this king will bathe in the echoing glow of fallen empires. Shane Davila is a landscape photographer and nature writer living in Boise. By com- bining photography and writing he pro- motes the renewing qualities of nature while promoting her well-being.
From Nature’s Journal wisdom from a future forest king
story and photo by SHANE DAVILA
Sitting in quiet solitude, I watch the tops of pine trees glisten as the sun’s fading light caresses them once more before disappearing behind mountain peaks. The gentle lapping of water against the shoreline fades into stillness. A gen- tle breeze dancing within grasses dissolves into quietude. Each instrument of silence is significant in these final orchestrated moments as the cur- tain of twilight settles over this lake basin stage. In these tranquil moments, I contemplate the brevity of life. My mind loosens its grip on wor- ry as I’m filled with the calming simplicity of presence. In our modern lives, balancing the de-
mands of career and family—while also trying to fit in and understand shifting societal norms— often manifests into stress, anxiety, depression, and the darkness of loneliness. Challenges arise that disrupt our peace, leaving us surrounded by harsh realities that can easily slip into despair. Yet, here, at the edge of a lake in the Seven Dev- ils Wilderness of West Central Idaho, my dog Shadow and I find peaceful reassurance in this stillness as we watch nature’s evening perfor- mance unfold.
what stands in the way becomes the way.” - marcus aurelius, roman emperor
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