Perceiving Purpose

On yesterday’s hike I was entranced by the wall of trees blanketing the opposite canyon wall.  I marveled at the intricate network of branches on trees on this side of the canyon.

Today I recognize that there before me was displayed a model representing all existence.  Each tree symbolizes a universe.  The chaos of branches and roots represents exploration in every possible direction, seemingly random and chaotic exploration, exploring every life-form, every geologic form, every stellar form, every planetary form.

In the tree, formed out of the roiling, random chaos of branches reaching this way and that, appears an unambiguous direction of growth, always up, always toward the sun......but this general direction of growth, the reaching down for water and up for sun, is indiscernible if looking too closely at only one or two or three knotted roots and twisted branches. 

Underlying the random chaos of the branches is the structure of DNA, for a living entity analogous to the laws of physics for a universe.  From tree to tree, and
to a greater degree species to species, the DNA varies, just as laws of physics would vary universe to universe.  Yet still every tree of every species grows toward the water of the soil and the sun of the sky.

And what of the universes?  In their branching into every form of physical structure and forms of life, do they reach for something?

The tree is unaware of its DNA that underlies both the tangled chaos and the consistent direction. 

Of what analogous ‘DNA” of the universe are we unaware?  Or is the tree, and are we, really so completely unaware?

When one random, grasping tendril touches moisture and then life-giving osmosis flows, can we rule out a flush of joy in that moment?

When sun finally illumines the reaching leaf, dare we haughtily proclaim there is no ecstasy in the ensuing cascade of photosynthesis?

Perhaps, though unperceived by our crudely physical senses, whether through its chemistry or otherwise, the tree does sense fulfillment of striving purpose when out of countless chaotic grasping attempts a root tendril reaches water, a leaf cluster reaches sun.

And what of our growing universe?...and our personal awareness within it?  As blind as the tree and constrained to our personal miniscule perspective on the universe, we cannot readily perceive overall directions in the chaotic, crashing, branching growth of this world’s physical reality.  But in analogy to the tree’s occasional root reaching water and branch reaching the sun, might we as conscious part of the Universe sense, even if not recognize, fulfillment of striving universal Purpose when we hear the child’s heartfelt laughter,  feel a sincere welcoming embrace, hear of an outbreak of peace, and wonder at each gesture of compassion?