Where are all of the trees God planted?

As I traveled across the United States on a recent family vacation, I was struck by the number of dead trees I observed along the way. Unfortunately, I think that most of us take trees for granted and rarely think much about them. They are, however, one of God's/Nature's true miracles. In addition to the shade, beauty, food, building materials, and fuel which they provide for us, they also absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, provide homes and food for the other creatures which share this planet with us, and prevent soil erosion. Indeed, it is hard to imagine life on this earth without them!

Even so, as agriculture, commerce and industry have expanded, the footprint of our woodlands has receded. Moreover, the introduction of alien species into the American ecosystem has had a devastating impact on our forest lands. In the last century, we lost the American Chestnut and the American Elm. In this still young century, we are witnessing the demise of our Ash and White Oak. In some of our Coniferous forests, the Pine Beetle is wreaking havoc and destroying beautiful stands of trees. And ALL of this devastation can be laid at the feet of the creature created in the image and likeness of God!

In the book of Genesis, we are told that God planted a garden in Eden and placed the humans there to tend and watch over it (2:8, 15). We are also informed there that "God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Verse 9) We know, however, that the humans not only abused/neglected the symbolic trees, but they also neglected to take care of the trees which God had made available for their benefit and nourishment! It is sad to see this failure of our ancestors perpetuated by their descendants. Some things never change!