The termite and the tree.

September 10, 2009 | 24 Comments

It’s 6:07 PM EDT and I just wrapped up a busy workday.

I took the dog for a walk in the park. The hustle and bustle was everywhere as people hurried to and from their various destinations.

When we returned to my apartment, I escaped to the balcony for a few moments. From this distant and dizzying vantage point, cars, buses, bikes and people scurried about the streets like termites in a decaying tree.

“So much striving, and so little arriving,” I thought to myself.

It reminded me of an Ojibway quote that has long-since become a mantra of mine. I’ll adapt the quote’s wisdom to better serve this moment:

Now and then I go about hurrying myself and all the while my soul is being blown by great winds across the sky.

As I run about my errands, jobs and responsibilities, rushing to meet deadlines and becoming a slave to the illusion of time, it’s easy to forget that my soul is being blown by great winds across the sky. As I stumble for footing over the little things, I sometimes forget to look up and see those things that are much bigger. As I scurry about, I forget that I am both termite and the tree.

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Comments

24 Comments

  • At 2009.09.10 17:17, Mark (from Toronto) said:

    In the big scheme of things our worrying is pointless. The universe is on its own timetable– ETERNITY. Our problems are like smoke in the wind.

    • At 2009.09.10 17:19, Kenneth Livingston said:

      Hey Davey,

      I’d have to say the best thing to do then would be to stay solid like the tree, and keep your soul pure and beautiful so that what ever it touches as it blows across the sky also becomes so. ?soul=seeds?

      lol, have a great evening,

      Ken

      • At 2009.09.10 17:25, Mark (from Toronto) said:

        In a separate thought. Caster Semenya’s medical examination has come back and it has been found that she is Intersexed. She has the sexual characteristics of both female and male. Intersexed label is given to those whose biological sex cannot be classified as either male or female.

        I think that sport needs to become more open-minded in its classifications to prevent people such as Caster to be subjected to humiliating examinations on a public stage.

        • At 2009.09.10 17:27, Jack said:

          Heya Davey, I think we all should be solid like a Tree, and stay strong, but let our thoughts and way of life vary like the termites and their direction.

          Love and Peace

          Jack (iami-youareyou.blogspot.com)

          • At 2009.09.10 17:39, Jacques said:

            That was a real good blog .. One of my favs, it gives you something to think about in bed .. The more you think about it we are these termites running around forgetting about our earth that is diein .. But there is only so much one termite can do! At the end of the day no matter what every tree has to fall ..
            Thanks for the good blog Davy x

            • At 2009.09.10 17:45, Jacques said:

              I liked this blog it was one of my favs, gives you something to think about in bed.. I guess we are the termites and the world is our diein tree .. But I guess there is only so much one termite can do! Every tree has to fall at one point right.

              Thanks for the blog again Davy x

              • At 2009.09.10 18:35, eric said:

                It’s 01:35 AM CEST and … I’m reading your post!!

                When I observe attentively, people in the streets are like ants coming to or leaving the anthill. I always wondered if I formed a part of the anthill! and what would happen of me if I decided to leave the nest ….

                good night

                • At 2009.09.10 21:10, jt (: said:

                  Hi Davey,
                  You’re one of my idols now. XDDD Not to mention a huge crush on you. x] Anyways I know what you mean, at my school nobody ever just stops and chills. I mean there is a gorgeous courtyard with trees and everything, sometimes I’ve been able to convince my friends to just chill there but everyone is always moving. :p
                  Keep up the good word dude, love to hear from you one day. :D

                  • At 2009.09.10 21:52, bruin said:

                    great quote

                    • At 2009.09.10 23:56, shawn said:

                      This will probably not be liked by some but I like it and it goes along with what you said about how it is pointless to worry. It is a passage of the Christain Holy Bible.

                      Matthew 6:25-34
                      “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
                      “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

                      • At 2009.09.11 06:29, Ian said:

                        Good post today, yeah running around busily trying to get too many things done describes my day so far, need to chill sit back and order some cool Davey Wavey Apparel. Davey any thoughts to selling hot white boxer briefs with cool purple peace symbols on them, they be fun to wear , model, and share. Just a thought.

                        • At 2009.09.11 06:46, Orazio Marinelli said:

                          Thank you for that Shawn. I do not know the bible that well and this has inspired
                          me to know more. I have just started to reinvigorate my usage of the Law of Attraction
                          after meeting Davey through the internet, I say meeting because I don’t believe it was
                          an accident at all. I feel that the universe guided me to him one day not that long ago.
                          I would like to share something new to me that could help others.

                          We have all heard of Podcasts, I know I have. I only now have an iPod nice enough to watch
                          them on. What I would like to share is this: Available on iTunes.com are several
                          inspirational Podcasts under the headings Podcasts>Alternative Health. They are free and very
                          insightful. There are several LOA Podcasts and even a great self-help section. I hope that
                          this inspires someone today to check it out and begin to become a better self.

                          About today, today is usually a solemn day, a day of remembering great pain for many around the world.
                          I would like to send all of the people affected by 9/11 strength and love. Although it has been 8 years
                          now, pain like that never goes away, you simply learn to live with until the days get
                          easier to live.

                          I would like anyone who lost someone that day, to remember that while those people
                          died a terrible death, they are not in a world that could to do that
                          to another human being. They are in a much better place with so much love. Peace to all.

                          Thank you Davey for creating a piece of that place here in my office. I can go to it often
                          and enjoy a like minded group that almost feels like family.

                          • At 2009.09.11 06:47, Murray said:

                            Hi Davey,
                            Discovered your site and wanted to say how much I enjoy it. Your balanced view and calming spirit are such a breath of fresh air today. Thank you.

                            • At 2009.09.11 07:06, Orazio Marinelli said:

                              I agree 100% Mark. That has to be very humiliating. When I saw that story for the first
                              time it reminded me of “boys” in school who used to question my sexuality in the form
                              of a hateful slur. I put boys in parenthesis because most of know or have known a few
                              like that. Its shows how deep the roots are of non-acceptance run within our society when
                              those traits show up in sports. Sporting is about personal goals, perseverance and
                              self-worth. It is a shame when that gets thrown aside so quickly to judge another human
                              being. Anyhow, sorry I didn’t realize how much that did affect me… think I will journal
                              a bit… :) Have a beautiful day, Mark!

                              • At 2009.09.11 08:13, Wei said:

                                Thanx for this beautiful article, it reminds somehow what have i gained or lost in my life.
                                Its quite fuuny when you slow down your steps and observe people around you who scurry to or from different destinations. Whatever has the life been giving you, its good to follow your heart…Thank you for the inspiration,good nite!

                                • At 2009.09.11 10:34, Jerry said:

                                  What a coincidence! A blog on “The Termite and the Tree” and what three Google ads stream across the top?

                                  1. Pest Control Atlanta
                                  2. Local Exterminators
                                  3. Got Bugs – Atlanta

                                  Obviously blown there by great winds across the sky.

                                  Still, a great read.

                                  • At 2009.09.11 11:18, rickyt said:

                                    haha,Thanks Shawn, Food for the soul :)

                                    • At 2009.09.11 11:30, Cliveey said:

                                      TREES LEAD A PRETTY BORING LIFE.
                                      Horrible little people called kids climb all oover them and build houses in them.
                                      Eager eyes see them as a source of fuel.
                                      Their babies (fruit) gets eaten.
                                      People set fire to them
                                      People take an axe to them and use them build their homes.
                                      Hurricanes blow them over – no chance to excape when your roots are stuck in the ground.
                                      .

                                      • At 2009.09.11 11:45, dave said:

                                        Haha yes, the ads are automatically populated by the content that I write. They must think that this blog is about pest control based on the words that I used!

                                        • At 2009.09.11 13:22, Jerry said:

                                          It’s to bad were termites and not butterflies. : (

                                          • At 2009.09.11 13:43, davvi said:

                                            Shawn, that Bible scripture from Matthew “Fits Perfectly” with Davey’s post. Thank-you so-much for your having featured it. L and P to you, Shawn, Davey and All, _ _ davvi

                                            • At 2009.09.11 14:46, eric said:

                                              I like your reply Shawn, although I’m a little devil!

                                              I will add nothing more than that :

                                              “CARPE DIEM QUAM MINIMUM CREDULA POSTERO” (HORACE, liv. I, ode XI, v. 8)

                                              bye,

                                              • At 2009.09.11 14:47, eric said:

                                                Ps : don’t know the little yellow thing comes from!!!!

                                                • At 2009.09.11 19:19, Craig said:

                                                  Davey Wavey, I’m going to be ultra superficial and say that your picture is beautiful. You have amazing abs. How do you do it?
                                                  Its great to see you look after soul, mind, and body…
                                                  I envy you!

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