Circles in a Forest is the title of a book by Dalene Matthee.  It is about a man, Saul Barnard, rejected by his people and an elephant, Old Foot, which broke free from its herd. Each on his own, these two roam the ancient forest;  the man following the elephant’s tracks, closer and closer to a truth that will change his life forever.

There are others in the forest. Gold diggers and woodcutters; busy with their work; eroding the once untouched forest.

This book is rich in symbolism that applies to everyone.  One review says its South African forest can be a desert, a city, or a farm in the heart of America.

It can also be your life…

Sometimes it feels like you are going round and round in circles: revisiting old hurts, questioning decisions, worrying how little you have to show for your efforts.  Perhaps that is why Martha Beck’s insight The Labyrinth of Life, reminded me of Circles in a Forest.

Yep, we go round and round the circle of self doubt, beating ourselves up for not being ‘perfect’, eroding our confidence and self-esteem when all along there is something precious deep inside. Just like woodcutters, you cannot see the wood for the trees:  You are too close and your relentless push to ‘get it right’ comes to nought, because it has been right all along.

Or if that is a step too far for you, just question it. What if, just maybe, what if it has been right all along? Even if you can accept only a tiny bit is right; that tiny bit is the perfect point to know that there is a level where you are pure perfection, no matter how tiny, no matter how small, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you. It is a little seed and you know what, mighty trees grow from tiny seeds.

Go on… Give it some thought… What have you got to lose?

Photo Credit: Michael Lorenzo