Beyond Effectiveness Is Effortlessness And Economy Of Action

The Oak Tree and the Squirrel: a story of how the world works in Grace

The oak tree stood very tall as it does; probably having existed for several hundred years. The squirrel, with its rodent like body and large bushy tail, looked up absentmindedly from the forest floor just before it leaped on to the tree to begin its climb to its nest high above.

In its mouth was an acorn it had scooped up from the ground. It had spent no time wondering what to do — whether the nut was too small, too large, or should be left for another squirrel. It had only three choices with every nut it found: eat it, bury it, or pack it into its mouth and carry it away for safekeeping. If the squirrel ate the nuts, it lived to forage another day. If it buried the acorn, the acorn had another opportunity to grow into an Oak tree. Without thinking, the squirrel chose to carry the nut away for safekeeping.

Just as mindlessly, the tree at the appropriate moment would grow the acorn to its appropriate size, let it drop at its correct time and let it fall where it may. The tree spent no time worrying about where the nut fell, if it got picked up or if the nut would grow into another oak tree. Life would take care of that.

Two living things perfectly suited to serve the other’s needs, both connected directly to one another as an expression of life. Both effective in their roles, but operating with an economy of action and effortlessness built into the equation due to their respective natures. A beautiful, glorious dance of Grace in action.

Strip it all away… and deeply observe interactions as you go about your day… are we really any different?

Meditations on life, leadership, and how the world works by Jonathan Creaghan