Of Plums and Permanence

While perched atop a scaffold recently, picking the ‘best’ plums from high in the tree, I pondered a conversation I had with a brilliant scientist/family member, not long ago. As it turns out, even among the highly intelligent and well-educated population, there’s disagreement as to whether or not truth is relative or universal... With that playing in my mind, I examined this magnificent tree. It was full of fruit; some of the plums were on the green side, some bursting with fully ripened goodness, and many at stages of development somewhere between. Below the tree were dozens that had fallen to the ground, being overripe, and were presently in a state of decay. (It wouldn’t have occurred to me that the fruit on the ground could be useful until my brother-in-law said he uses the newly fallen plums to make a beverage, saying they are juiciest and sweetest of all.) Picking plums seemed relevant to my conversation with the scientist, whom I love: I held that there is universal truth; he respectfully disagreed with me. It seemed some truths are both, some are neither, depending on who you ask. Learning that this plum tree will be hewn down caused me to consider how death might be seen as universal; though newly planted seeds from the tree’s fruit may bring death to the table of debate, too. Whatever any and all deeper meanings may be, change is inevitable. I shared with you last week how the perspective of my children changed, and with it, so did the realization of joy in their lives. One of the fallacies we very often unwittingly grow up believing is that peace and happiness are found when everything remains as it has always been. By this tendency, even unhealthy cycles are perpetuated throughout generations in families and societies; we cling to the familiar. We often become unsettled or insecure in the face of change because of perception and clinging to the desire for permanence. Embracing change fosters increased power to navigate life well. We cannot control much of the outward cycles of life, but CAN learn to find joy in change. The universal truth in the idea of permanence is that all things change; transformation is permanent truth. All of existence is in a state of continuing motion. Called evolution, development or growth; it might be progression, advancement, or aging. Pain can be joy when seen as growth; comfort might be stagnation. Fruition and decay coexist in the same moment, in the same tree. On a fruiting plum tree there are green and ripening fruit. Below, rest the overripe. Which are best? That depends on who is perched atop the scaffolding. Choose while the tree stands.