The Trees Among Us are Like Us
As the weather finally turns Spring-like in the Lou, the trees have turned magical. It got me thinking about how similar they really are to us and how we often take them for granted. So, at the risk of being too corny or sentimental, here is an ode to these spactacular living giants among us.
They are as physically diverse as we are- from tiny shrubs to tall redwoods, lean birch trees to wide oaks. Like humans, no two trees are identical. They rise and grow and twist and turn in unpredictable ways. They have different talents: from bearing fruit to shading to sheltering to serving as the neighborhood treehouse or the center of attention at Christmas.
Some like the Cherry Blossoms and Dogwoods are spectacular in Spring; others, like the Maple and Aspen are most magnificent in Fall. And there are those, like Evergreens, who do not stand out in a crowd but are steady and reliable all year round.
Trees hang in large groups (forests), small clusters (in backyards) and all by themselves. But, like people, most appear to do better surrounded by others. The best trees, like the best people, provide for more than just themselves. They offer food and housing to birds, and squirrels, sustenance to the soil, and shade from oppressive heat.
Like us, trees depend on nature’s gifts of water, sun and nutrients for their survival. And are prone to life’s adversities; they can be ravaged by disease, the poverty of drought or adequate nourishment, or the happenstance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time due to lightning, tornadoes, and fire.
Like their human brethren, some can handle misfortune better than others. Much of a tree’s strength or frailties derive from the character of its foundation, which is not always visible or apparent. Those with powerful root systems can often survive setbacks and damage to limbs. Those lacking a solid foundation can be troubled by even the passing breeze.
Trees encounter similar stages of life – from birth to adolescence to maturity to senior status and then ultimately death. Like people, some are blessed with long lives that can exceed a century; others are far less fortunate. Some age more gracefully than others. And some give off seedlings and regenerate themselves, passing on the magic of life and leaving a legacy for future generations.
The leaves that grow each Spring reflect the inevitable changes of life but also offer the opportunity to contemplate new beginnings and to get better at living.
