The Money Tree

“The heart surrenders everything to the moment. The mind judges and holds everything back.”
Ram Dass 

 

A Money Tree further down the driveway

 

 

Hello and welcome,

As my hubby and I prepare to leave Melbourne for London in just over a week, we are making good progress with our ‘to-do’ list…
until a small bush between our driveway and the next door neighbour’s fell onto our side. It wasn’t a high priority to tend to it immediately, and became something else to add to the growing list of things to finalise before departure day.

I decided this particular sunny lunch time I would sneak out to begin breaking off the branches that had toppled over.

I was all set to dive into one of my beloved podcasts while I performed the operation, when my lovely neighbour appeared. She came over onto my side to have a chat and noticed what I was about to do.
She offered to help me and I reassured her I would be able to manage it on my own. I didn’t want her to put herself out, as she was still carrying her handbag…and after all, I was all set for some good listening while I was busy in the lovely winter sun, before scurrying back inside to pack and fill in forms.

She insisted she help, and promptly began breaking up some of the softer branches.
I watched on as she took control of the situation, initially disappointed that my ‘quiet time’ outside was disappearing.
As I watched her, I suddenly became overwhelmed with a feeling…

A feeling of ‘no, this is happening exactly as it should be. Just allow the moment to unfold…Give her space to help if she insisted on doing so.’

And so I did.

After proceeding to fetch the garden waste bin and wheeling it out to the driveway, we both worked together, chatting as we went.

Two neighbours home at the same time on a sunny lunch time.

It was more special because we haven’t had a lot to do with them, although we were always on friendly terms whenever we would cross paths- everyone seems to keep to themselves a lot more now days.

May, my neighbour, referred to the bush as a Money Tree. I’m not very strong with botanical names or common names for many plants and flowers so I took her word for this.
A feeling that pervaded this story was of a moment that was ‘off my script’…the script being my ‘to-do’ list for the day.

A keen sense that I will perhaps never share time like this again with my lovely neighbour enabled me to just ‘be’, knowing I was preparing to fly off for a long period of time. I remained enveloped in the contentment that everything is unfolding as it should, the acceptance and surrendering that sometimes the most magical of moments occur when we least expect them.

It proffered new meaning for the ‘Money Tree’ experience…

…Perhaps we both became richer that afternoon.

…Perhaps the pruning of the tree gave us greater insight into each other, the chance to pause and appreciate.

It have me reason to think that sometimes the most beautiful moments are the ones that take us off course…
The moments that don’t match our script…
The moments we aren’t expecting…
We have to make room for these moments because this is where the love lies,
in the micro-moments,
through the fostering of connection.

And you know what? I still managed to do all my other chores I had planned for the afternoon. Sometimes I find if I proceed slowly, I actually get more done. It seems to be a little paradox of Time I have noticed.

May we all grant ourselves permission to things to take us off course,
to leave the script from time to time,
to be mindful of these moments occurring before our eyes…
and simply share the gift of our presence.

“Remember then: There is only one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it’s the only time when we have any power.”
Leo Tolstoy

Thank you for being here,
Much love,
Di