Crooked tree – what caused me to bend?

I noticed a crooked tree. It was bent, but not broken and growing with vigor toward the sky. I wondered what happened that forced the tree to bend so. And I wondered about the life force that gave it strength to persevere through what looks to have been a significant challenge to its well-being. Does a tree have a will for living?

I also wondered how many hidden bends and turns exist in the lives of the people all around us? We simply don’t know what courageous choices or acts they have made to navigate through to where they are today. I suspect we do not appreciate how brave our fellow human beings really are. Do you have hidden bends? What have you persevered through that most people would not know about you?