Resiliency in the Face of Adversity The harsh sun shines relentlessly. The occasional rain barely creates a water flow. The dry winds howls as it blows unceasingly. Despite the harsh conditions faced in the depths of Yala National Park, the Lone Ranger is the only one of her kind to flourish among the other thirsty species surrounding her. Palu (Manilkara hexandra) one of the most dominant, native fruiting trees. We don’t know where she came from, or how she got here. Perhaps it was the rare flood that washed a seed here, or perhaps she hitched a ride on the back of a wandering animal (ELPHANT?). But she took root here, a stranger in a strange land.

So she can spread more of her kind even in the harsh conditions. She overcame the arid conditions and the adversity that lay before her. Her resilience shows how remarkable trees are and their ability to adapt and live successfully amongst those that aren’t their own kind. We as humans should be able to follow this example; it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like or who you live with; what matters is how you live, holding onto the earth with deep roots, spreading your branches out in welcome and embrace, smiling up at the sky, providing share, comfort and hope to those around.