Precious and precarious
A few years ago, Cherry Blossom trees came to my attention two random times in the same day.
I was in the car with my husband and girls trying to remember what the cherry tree I climbed as a child looked like. I googled cherry trees but only came up with pictures of Cherry Blossom trees, which were at least pretty to look at.
Then Austin brought up His dad ...
We lost him suddenly in June of 2012. He talked about how much he missed conversations with him, and how you never know when it will be the last time you talk with someone. We talked about life and how beautiful it can be, also how hard, even tragic it can be.
Later, my sister-in-law texted me pictures of my niece’s birthday party. The theme— Japanese Cherry Blossoms.
I found it to be an interesting coincidence (and I don’t believe in mere coincidences), so I did a little research on Cherry Blossom trees.
The name for Cherry Blossoms in Japanese is Sakura, and in Japan they celebrate them in a big way every spring. They call the celebration Hanami, which literally means “viewing flowers”. They eat and drink, having picnics under the trees while they are in full bloom.
For the Japanese, the cherry blossoms are a metaphor for human life. Blooming season is filled with beauty and excitement but is short-lived. Soon, the blooms fall away. Much like life, it’s fleeting.
Writer, Helen Suk wrote a great article on the meaning of the trees in Japan. She said:
“When the Japanese gather under the cherry blossom trees every April, they’re not just admiring the aesthetic attributes of a flower. Over tables of sake-filled glasses, bento boxes and sweet mochi, they’re seizing the day. They’re wringing the beauty out of life. They’re commemorating the loss of loved ones and reflecting on their own precious lives with a sense of wonder …”
She goes on to say ...
“… Why do we neglect to revel in life when it can end at any moment, or in the grace surrounding us everywhere: our family, friends, a stranger’s smile, a child’s laugh, new flavours on our plate or the scent of green grass?
It is time, cherry blossoms remind us, to pay attention. Ultimately, the meaning of cherry blossoms teaches the Japanese they are sakura. We all are.” (emphasis mine)
I also found another quote that struck me by Homaro Cantu ...
In the Japanese culture, the cherry blossom tree is a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. When the cherry blossom trees bloom for a short time each year in brilliant force, they serve as a visual reminder of how precious and how precarious life is. (emphasis mine)
Everything I found brought me right back to my conversation with my husband. How precious and precarious life can be. One day his father was here, the next he was gone. But man, while he was here, he bloomed with brilliant force.
I often think about him. I think of him as an example of how I want to live. He was just so bright. And by bright I don’t mean super intelligent—although he was. I mean, he shined. When he was in a room it was lighter, brighter. I miss seeing him walk into a room, all 6 feet 6 ½ inches of him. He had a deep, jovial laugh that made you feel at home. I felt as if I could tell him anything. I imagine anyone who knew him for more than 10 minutes felt that way. You could just let go of all pretense and be yourself.
I can’t tell you how sad I am that he didn’t get to meet Norah or Eva, and more so that they didn’t get to meet him. Mr. Webster passed on June 29, 2012 and Norah was born on March 29, 2013 … 9 months to the day of his passing.
I look back at Mr. Webster’s life and sometimes I cry, but more so, I smile. I loved him and I know he loved me because he showed it. He lived love and it was such a beautiful sight to see.
I hope we’ll all be cherry blossoms to those around us. I hope that while we are here, we’ll bloom with brilliant force and live fully, as Helen Suk said, wringing the beauty out of life. Because, though it is true that life can be fleeting and precarious, never forget it is also undeniably beautiful and precious.