The Gift of Trees

Trees have to rank among God's greatest gifts to humankind and the other flora and fauna that share this planet with us! Take just a moment to consider the many benefits which we derive from them. From the dawn of humanity's existence on this earth, trees have provided us with food, shelter, fuel, medicines, shade, protection, beauty, landmarks and recreation. They also provide food, shelter and protection for many of the other creatures with which we share our habitat (birds, insects, squirrels, monkeys, etc.). Likewise, trees absorb excess carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, are an important part of the hydrologic cycle, serve as windbreaks and provide habitats for many other plants (sun sensitive shade lovers).

Hence, it is no great wonder that humanity has associated trees with things sacred and spiritual in times past. Not only have some humans actually worshipped trees, nearly all cultures and religions have employed them in the worship of their gods. Moreover, lest my fellow Christians think that we are somehow exempt from this phenomenon, I wish to underscore the important place which trees occupy in the Judeo-Christian canon.

The first chapter of Genesis reminds us that God created trees (verses 11-12). The following chapter of the same book informs us that God made trees an integral part of the Garden of Eden, and even designated a tree to symbolize eternal life and another to represent the ability to make moral decisions (2:9). Abraham erected his tents by the oaks of Mamre. Trees were employed in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant and the Temple. God told the Israelites to destroy the groves which their pagan predecessors had employed in the worship of their gods. Olive trees became important symbols in prophetic visions. The king of Babylon was compared to a tree, and the messiah was compared to various components of the patriarch Jesse's tree. Jesus once told his disciples that they could judge a tree by the manner of fruit that it produced (Matthew 7). Christ was crucified on a wooden cross, and Judas hung himself from a tree. Finally, the "Tree of Life" reappears in the great Apocalypse which concludes the Christian Bible (Revelation 22).

Consider for just a moment the joy and beauty we derive just from their appearance. Think about all of the folks who flock to New England each fall to view the vibrant colors of those deciduous forests just before they shed their leaves for the winter. Think about the magnificent musical instruments which have been crafted over the centuries of human existence on this planet - the trees which have inspired countless paintings - the beautiful wall paneling, flooring and furniture for the interiors of our homes and buildings! Think about the majestic Redwoods of California, and the massive Sycamores which line the creek bottoms of the Eastern United States.

Still aren't impressed by this spectacular gift from our Creator? What about the photosynthesis going on inside of those leaves? What about the internal specialized structures of those trees? The Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service inform us that trees have an outer bark (which functions in much the same way that our skin does), phloem (part of a tree's circulatory system - distributing food to all parts of the tree), cambium (the source of new bark and wood), sapwood (the part of the tree's circulatory system responsible for the movement of water), heartwood (the tree's skeleton or support system) and leaves (the engines of photosynthesis). And, in addition to the trunk and branches visible to us above ground, we sometimes forget that there is an extensive root system below ground that is not generally visible to us. Trees are also among the longest living organisms on this planet (it's not uncommon for some deciduous trees to live for 400-500 years, and some conifers can live for millennia)!

So, yes, among God's many gifts, trees are one of the very best! From climbing trees and swinging birches (Robert Frost) to the studs and boards in the walls of our homes, trees are one of God's great miracles. From the apples, peaches, walnuts and pecans which we consume to the aspirin derived from the bark of a willow, trees make our existence more delightful and bearable. If you still aren't convinced, just try to imagine life without them.