Sometimes the phrase, “a shallow mind” is used in a derogatory way in reference to people who don’t seem to think deeply about important issues, or their attention is preoccupied with topics and interests that require little thinking and effort to absorb or understand.

As I hiked through Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park, a couple of days ago, I found myself surrounded by steep walls of layered limestone towering to neck cranking heights above my head. The trail paralleled a stream that over thousands of years had carved a canyon down through the mountain as melted snow water sought out streams and rivers below.

Aside from the impressive thundering waterfalls and swirling pools of agitated water pushed one way and pulled the other, I was struck by the trees that could send roots down into the age-old rock and find the nourishment and strength they needed to grow elegantly to the sky. There were hundreds of them everywhere.

I looked closely at the top of the rock, and there was at most 1-3 inches of what might be described as soil, but hardly, and the rest was rock, rock, rock as far down as you can imagine. The trees grew out of the stone. And the trees were fully clothed with healthy green needles right up to the top.

I stopped my trek for a moment and bemusedly compared the shallow soil I saw on top of the stone to a “shallow mind,” that I mention above.

I quipped to myself, “If a big beautiful tree can grow out of that shallow and poor excuse for soil, then big beautiful thoughts can grow out of the shallowest of minds.”

A bright light went on within! This revelation was exciting for it revealed a truth that I found very helpful in my efforts to see the spiritual truth in everyone.

In Truth, there is no such thing as a shallow mind. There is one Mind, God, and it is deep, rich, and overflowing with profound and significant thinking. Everyone, as a child of God, reflects the depth and wealth of this Mind, without exception. None of God’s children can possibly ever have a shallow mind. A lacking mind is a false concept of mortal mind that denies the spiritual individuality and fruitful mentality of God’s man.

I found a greater lightness in my step as I resumed my hike and happily accepted that no matter how limited a neighbor’s mind may appear to be, it is not. My neighbor reflects the divine Mind that is never shallow, but deep and rich with spiritual intelligence and understanding. And I should never be surprised to see incredible and grand achievements germinate, take root and grow out of my neighbor’s thought, even when everyone else may think great and grand achievements by that individual are never going to happen.

And anyone who doubts, just take a hike up Johnston Canyon and behold the trees that take root in the most unlikely of places and defy conventional expectations.