fire and rain

I was recently in Muir Woods just outside of San Francisco. It's an arresting display of nature's majesty. Some of these gargantuan redwood trees were 100 years old when William the Conquerer reigned.

What was really interesting to see was how nature sustains its balance. In areas where very little light appears, ferns are in abundance, thiving under the protective shade of their big brother redwoods. In other areas, daggers of light appear to feed those plants that require sunshine. There you will find leafy green plants, sometimes with flowers.

And, there is evidence of how fire works it magic in the forest, culling out weaker plants so that the strong may thrive. Instead of allowing excess brush and foliage to make it impossible for all to thrive, nature uses fire as a tool to cull the herd, to make sure there is plenty for those who survive.

Our economy is very much like the forest. We've gone through a long period of economic growth with almost all sucking at the teat of the greenback. Too many have offered little in return, creating an imbalance we couldn't sustain.

This recession is the fire this economic forest required. The strong will survive and the pretenders will be vanquished. When the fire is finally extinguished, we will come out a stronger, more resilient economy, with players that are ready for the long haul. While painful, it's necessary.