never give up – Roadkill Crossing

Whenever I go birding, I inevitably discover many other curiosities to photograph. Such is the life of a retired senior citizen.

On my most recent outing, I came upon this wild cherry tree that had been struck by lightning sometime last year. I hated to see the stately tree destroyed since it was one of only a few in this small state park. All kinds of wildlife depended on its flowers and berries for sustenance.

Since the tree is about halfway around the lake, pictured in the background, I usually pause my hiking for a rest here, admiring the beauty of the tree’s bark and splintered wood. This time, however, I noted something fascinating. Tender shoots of new branches were growing from the tree trunk, as seen in the foreground of the determined hardwood.

Such is nature’s way of producing life, where we humans see only demise. There is a lesson to remember here: No matter your situation, never give up.