Roots Of Lancaster

It In 2011 I had a heart attack. My main artery was completely blocked. I had to be helicopter lifted from my small town to a larger hospital where they could deal with the emergency.  They filled me with blood thinners and morphine. I don’t remember flying except a moment when we tipped forward to ready for landing. What I saw was a beautiful,  undulating, carpet of green tree tops, all the way to the horizon. 

I was in the ICU for 5 days. My spouse and 3 year old son came and met me there. When they arrived one of the nurses gave my son a popsicle. As he sat on my hospital bed, he put the popsicle on my leg to help me feel better.  I’ll never forget that. I will also never forget the shock and chill that ran through me when the doctor described to me that I had a major blockage in my primary artery,  the one called “the widow maker.” I was lucky that blockage was in the lower part of my heart. Below that point the heart muscle would not recover. But something miraculous had occurred. Other, smaller arteries, had taken up the work of my artery that was blocked. These were strengthening and evolving to take blood where it needed to go so that I could continue to live, get stronger and have a full life.  

When I look at these trees, I see the same process taking place. They are changing, and evolving, so that they can continue to live their best life.  We are surrounded by life trying to live. This is an amazing reality…