Do cherry trees bloom because people come to see them?

courage enough faith freedom personal growth

Every spring, over 1.5 million people visit Washington DC to see the 3,000 cherry trees blossoming along the tidal basin and National Mall. We're about 30 minutes outside of the city, so my girls and I met up with my niece in the city this weekend to join the fun. 

As I sat under one of the cherry trees with my notebook, journaling and watching tens of thousands of people strolling through the area, I thought about how amazing it was that all of these people came, simply to see the blossoms. 

Don't get me wrong; the blossoms are absolutely stunning, and well-worth the trip. But it dawned on me that these people (myself included) came to see something that wasn't produced or practiced. The trees don't hold rehearsals and blossom because they know over a million people are coming to see them. They blossom because it's simply what they are divinely designed to do. And it's so spectacular that people can't help but come to see them. 

We can be like that, too.

Have you ever seen a person completely owning their beauty and majesty -- like the blossoming trees do? I have, and it's magnificent. You can't look away! Just like the trees, they're not performing for you; they're simply existing in their fullest ability. 

This is freedom. And it's available to all of us.