It’s customary to think of decay as a negative process. Something that was healthy is not anymore. Something that once thrived has not survived. Whether it’s a process or a living organism, the impact is the same – something could not be fixed/retained and now it is failing/gone.
Filling the Void
One month after moving into our Oklahoma house, the straight-line winds of a derecho pummeled us. The eight trees that lined our fence had significant damage, and one was toppled entirely. In the ensuing 13 years, much evolved in our backyard, but we never planted a replacement tree in that spot. Ironically, the gap in the tree line served a purpose in August. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
Bringing fiber optic cable to our neighborhood, the workers undoubtedly found a worst-case scenario in my backyard – an entire easement occupied by a row of large trees. I doubted they would be able to trench across my yard without hurting themselves or my trees. Their solution, however, amazed me. Low and behold, the exact spot where the tree once stood was where they manually dug a large hole and established their new equipment station.
The decayed roots created a suitable digging location to make an underground vault, where they could install and pull the cable within one day in 104° heat. Now, a large beige handhole cover marks the spot.
Finding Opportunities
If it’s an operational process that’s decaying, consider what parts could be salvaged, improved, or replaced. Some aspects may need to be eliminated so that positive changes can be made. Like the tree in the second photo, even when the trunk is split in multiple directions, what remains can recover and grow strong over time.
Fences can be rebuilt. Things that are damaged but not destroyed can survive. Whether it was literal or metaphorical decline, we may miss what we’ve lost. But, even decaying roots can provide the means for new opportunities in their place.