Even Trees Know

There is a big Oak tree that I need to cut. It is leaning over the driveway and it's just a matter of time until it falls over the road and will probably do so at a pretty inconvenient time. It has been fascinating to watch that tree grow over the last forty years or so and there is no question that the angle at which it is growing continues to overshadow the drive  almost imperceptibly leaning a bit more each year. There is much we can observe about trees and perhaps take some lessons in living considering how long some trees live even though, or perhaps because, they are unable to move from where they take root. Perhaps the fact that trees don't move around and keep trying to find a "better" place explains their longevity and the growing that continues if only primarily in a vertical direction. Trees just patiently continue to grow and accept whatever is done to them. If what is done doesn't kill the tree, it simply grows around the item that someone leaves hanging on a branch. You may have seen the photo of a bicycle completely captured inside the trunk of a tree.

We humans can certainly learn some lessons from trees. The idea of patiently growing even though there is something foreign that could be irritating us is a helpful idea. Having appreciation for our roots is another aspect of horticulture that we do well to accept. Knowing what provides true growth is another lesson we can learn by observing trees. That tree that I referred to in the beginning of this post continues to lean further west each year because it is on the east side of the driveway. The tree somehow knows that growth is provided by seeking light and, if you take notice, you will observe that trees along a road or stream grow towards the center because that's where the light is most available. God provides lessons for us constantly,even among inanimate things like trees. A healthy life for you and me is more likely if we take our cue from the trees; appreciate our roots, patiently work with what comes, and continually seek The Light of the World.