Deepening Roots, Spreading Branches

Ending the World Music Course on Saturday and beginning the next course on Sunday was hardly conducive to reflection about another year around the sun. But the short story is this: 

Growing older with intention, awareness, still-intact curiosity helps send the roots of this old tree yet deeper into the ground. The darkness and grief there turn out to be life-giving and appear as necessary companions in life’s journey. The tree is anchored yet more solidly and the underground springs soak up through the roots to the branches. And the branches themselves keep reaching for the light and spreading out further. I couldn’t help but notice and feel blessed by the Facebook birthday greetings coming from around the U.S. and Canada, from Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Iceland, Finland, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Russia, India, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and beyond, all (well, many) of the wonderful folks I’ve had the pleasure to meet and work with in my world travels spreading the good news about Orff Schulwerk. And then the in-person birthday songs from the 100 international teachers gathered here in Hidden Valley for the annual Orff Certification course. 

Everyone knows about the trials and tribulations of aging, the failing, sagging body, the diminishing of powers and such, but health permitting, the joys and pleasures are many and they’re real. Not to be lightly traded for the young, sexy body, which isn’t an option anyway. So hooray for 68 years old and no better birthday wish than to keep sinking the roots yet deeper and keep reaching toward the light.