tongues in trees

Duke Senior was the rightful duke of the land but was forced by his brother to live in exile in the Forest of Arden. While there, Duke Senior embraced his predicament and found comfort in the natural wonders surrounding him.

He was a meek duke.

If stones could preach, what would be the lesson? One entitled “The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth” is my guess. All creatures great and small practice meekness, many humans, on the other hand, do not. The meaning of the word as it was used in the original sermon relates to a quality of adaptation or flexibility. Nature’s creatures have already inherited the earth, so it makes sense they would want to teach us that bit of wisdom. A plant, for example, senses the light is pooling in an area a distance off, so it reaches toward it. A puma hears the buzzing of new construction, so it finds a new habitat.

Meekness is a strength, a wisdom, a subtle force. In humans it manifests itself through openness, compassion, and vulnerability. It’s the opposite of rigidity, aggression, and certainty. The meek embrace ambiguity and are comfortable with liminality. They see beauty and potential in the shadows. They know that when they stare into a forest of trees, grasses, and ponds, there are thousands of eyes starring back. And they’re okay with that because they find “good in everything.”