Image by Author, Debbie Dunn

“Depart not from the path which fate has you assigned.”
- Chinese Fortune Cookie

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn

April 25, 1999
Laurel Falls Hike in Great Smoky Mountains

We are so happy you took the time to notice us. It is well that you walk slowly, gazing lingeringly from left to right and from right to left, looking down, around, and up, ever up. Many are those who walk the trail and never look down to see the beauty we have to offer. Just as you walked the trail, being present in the moment of this hike, so should you strive to be more present in all your moments as you move through your days. Don’t waste time grieving or regretting or reveling in the past. Don’t invest your precious time in worrying about the future. Know your direction, yes. Have clarity, yes. But then, walk in confidence down the path you have chosen to walk. Greet those who walk past you and learn from those who align themselves with you for a time. Learn what you can from each other and then release them to the Universe with great love and gratitude. If it is for your highest good and their highest good to spend a longer time together, then that will happen naturally. You do not need to plot or plan or strain to make this happen. Let go and let God. That is what we would share with you.

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn 

April 25, 1999
Laurel Falls in Great Smoky Mountains

My dear friend, welcome, welcome, welcome. Many are the people who gather to enjoy the sights and sounds of ourselves known as Laurel Falls. Children come to play, young people to climb and wade, adults of all ages come to savor and sit and rest and gaze. This brings us great joy to be of service to mankind in this way. You personally and all collectively are welcomed by us.

The wisdom we wish to share with you and any who may choose to read these words is the following: suspend judgment of others. Don’t judge by appearances. Give each person a chance to rise or fall by their own merits. Don’t let the clothes they wear, or the way they fix their hair, or their physical size or shape be the telling factor. Strive to see them from the inside out. See the beauty in each person. If you truly lay aside any prejudice of your past conditioning and gaze into the window of their soul -the eyes – you will see an aspect of the Christ Consciousness gazing back at you. Just so, you too bear an aspect of the Christ Consciousness also within you. Love the true man. Love truth. Love God’s beautiful creations. That is what we would say to you. Stay as long as you like and come visit us often after you go. We welcome you one and all.

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn

April 25, 1999
Lower Part of Laurel Falls in Great Smoky Mountains

Waterfalls are a message from God to all mankind. As you stand and behold the seemingly inexhaustible supply of water, you wonder – where does all that water come from? Even more so with God’s Love and care. There is most definitely an inexhaustible, unlimited supply of that Love and care pouring out, pouring down, pouring over, pouring through all of mankind. The sound of a waterfall brings peace and joy to all who hear. Even more so, the sound of the voice of God (heard deep within) brings the most powerful and sublime feelings of relaxation, trust, and utter peace. Mankind can truly lean on and rely on the ever tender, ever powerful, ever faithful Love of God. Just as a waterfall does not judge whether or not a rock or log or crevice is worthy of the water pouring over it, God, even more so, does not inflict judgment on His beloved children. He Loves all mankind equally and beyond measure. Savor and enjoy that knowledge. Be grateful for the abundance of God’s Love.

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn

April 25, 1999
Laurel Falls Hike in Great Smoky Mountains

These pictures, as you perceived them when you took them, was of a person having to pass through a dark tunnel with a great radiant white light at the end. That is exactly right. The life that each person leads is down a mysterious path, sometimes dark, sometimes scary, sometimes fun or exciting. But there is always way-stations of radiant light and illumination, those moments of perfect clarify that indeed you have a great purpose in life. You have been coming closer to your particular purpose all the time. You are seeing the light more and more, even though you still have a long path yet to walk. You are here to help bring healing to the young people you teach. You bring this healing by treating them with respect and helping them learn more positive ways to deal with each other, particularly when they find themselves in conflict situations. You are also here to help bring healing by the stories you tell and write, the workshops you teach, and the way you deal with people. Keep your eyes on the light ahead and you can’t go wrong. Don’t focus too much on the little obstacles that might appear to block your way. Those obstacles have only served to build your character and to make you stronger. Keep your eyes and heart on the light and your feet will glide easily along the path you call life. Walk with God and go in peace.

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn 

April 25, 1999
Laurel Falls Hike in Great Smoky Mountains

Welcome. What first attracted you to this scene? The sound of running water? The single Dogwood blossom remaining on the tree? The gloomy overhang? Whatever it was that stopped you in your tracks both coming and going, we are grateful that we drew your notice and the notice of the other people who also choose to stop. We draw energy from the attention and appreciative notice given to us from the people who pass by. We sigh with pleasure when an animal or bird chooses to take shelter inside the overhang or to drink of the water that forms a sort of musical interlude within our confines. We bid all welcome who choose to stop, look, savor, and enjoy.

Does it amaze you that a Dogwood tree can grow out of the top of the overhang without causing a cave-in? Nature has many wonders such as that to behold. Just so, each of mankind has many wonders and hidden sources of beauty and integrity. And as you work with your students each day, affirm the following: “Every student at my school and all schools makes wise choices on this day and every day that protects and preserves the safety, integrity, and the emotional well-being of their fellow classmates.” This prayerful affirmation should be part of your daily contribution and personal armor to help prevent violence at your school and all schools. By example and by your teaching, teach them to appreciate the necessity of watching their word choices and to not put others down. Be gentle with all and walk gently down this path and through your life. Thank you for sharing this moment in time.

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn

April 25, 1999
Laurel Falls Hike in Great Smoky Mountains

Each forest scene that you see is multi-layered. As you gaze at this photograph, it is perhaps difficult to discern that it is a Dogwood tree’s flowering branches that are superimposed in front of and intertwined with the dead branches of the sleeping tree. That dormant tree stands as a thin sentinel that points to the help that comes from above. God is an ever-present source of help in times of trouble. People’s hearts all over the country are bleeding and grieving over the shootings that happened at the school in Littleton, Colorado and the seemingly copycat-ism that is happening at various schools throughout the USA. What is the solution? From whence comes our help and our source of spiritual strength? God is the answer. God is our strength. Nature is also a place of solace, to gather strength, to get peaceful, to connect and re-connect with our inner resources. We must each make our contribution to the healing of violence in our own unique way. Nature has its own soothing methods. Each person must make an active choice to either walk the path that leads toward perpetuating the conflict or to walk the path that aids in perpetuating peace and harmony. It is an active and dynamic choice that must be re-embraced day by day by each action you take and each word you allow out of your mouth and each thought that you choose to entertain. Guard zealously your choice and strive to be a window through which others might see God so that others might decide to also choose to align themselves with the path of peace.

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn

April 25, 1999
White Dogwood Tree on Laurel Falls Hike in Great Smoky Mountains

Let your heart not be troubled. Do not let yourself walk the path of fear that such as happened at the Columbine High School will happen at your school. The thirteen who died were martyrs of peace. Those thirteen were sacrificial lambs on the altar of peace for that event will act as a catalyst to galvanize the entire country to be ever more vigilant on how we deal with young people today. It was truly a wake-up call. Their funeral shrouds will be the banner-flag around which people will rally. “Take back our schools. Make them safe for all.” No more can adults go sleepwalking throughout the day, complaisantly believing that they can teach in the old way and domineer in the old way. Teachers need to vigilantly guard their words and practices. Are they treating their students, fellow teachers, and administrators with respect? If not, then are they truly deserving of the respect they have grown to expect? Are they setting a good example for the impressionable students who walk through their doors? Are they tolerating or ignoring disrespect and put-downs between students? Wake up! Be ever vigilant! No, you cannot control or change your fellow teachers; however, you can “walk your talk” and model a loving and respectful way of dealing with students. You can stand out, like the white dogwood flower against the bright blue sky, and set an example of a more peaceful, loving, respectful way to act. Walk with great intention and integrity throughout your day. The Golden Rule continues to be ever more meaningful for all people. Embrace peace! Celebrate truth! LOVE!!!

Picture by Author, Debbie Dunn 

April 25, 1999
My Back Yard: Dead Dogwood Tree on Left;
Living Dogwood Tree on Right

Here you are returned, safe in your own back yard. Your trips to broaden the size of your back porch have been most successful thus far. Much you have learned and much you have yet to learn as you continue this journey, this process to expand your view of and enjoyment of the beautiful world God has created. All of nature holds great stores of wisdom ever available to open eyes and receptive ears and hearts.

Often you have sat and studied us. You briefly consider the possibility of requesting that the dead portion of the White Dogwood be cut down. But then you recalled that we make an easy passageway for squirrels and other creatures. You also were correct that to cut us down prematurely could injure the healthy portion of the tree that still buds and blooms and fills the air with our special scent. Let us fall down in our own good time. We sink lower month by month. But our time has not yet come to be removed. Plus, you and others have not yet gained by reading our complete message to mankind. Our message and our wisdom is the following: This tree can be likened to the left and right brain. Those who are only left-brained, listening only to logic and intellect, are dead to feeling and emotion. Those who are only right-brained, operating strictly from feeling and emotion, but lacking common sense and reason, can look beautiful, but are still lacking. Balance is important. Draw from both sides and resources so as to be and act as a whole, complete, more actualized person. That is all.

Resources:

Chinese Fortune Cookie

Inspired by Michael J. Road’s book “Talking with Nature: Sharing the Energies and Spirit of Trees, Plants, Birds, and Earth”