Then came luxurious light green foliage, followed by the fruit enjoyed by all of us, including the robins. As summer came, the tree provided a deep shade that covered part of the driveway. When fall advanced, the leaves changed colors and provided another spectacle of beauty. Cold days of winter caused the tree to experience a dormancy which was absolutely necessary before the new cycle could begin. Each season of the tree had a special beauty and usefulness of its own.
Life is the same.
Each era of life has its own contributions and compensations. Problems arise when we fixate on only one value or purpose in life so that we don't enjoy the characteristics of all seasons. As with the cherry tree, the secret to living is to enjoy the full expression of life with the attributes of each season. It is more accurate to see each age as the cycles seen in the cherry tree. This vision that is forming will probably govern life for the next twenty years.