November 26
Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen, the stately trees
are ruined! Wail oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been
cut down! Zechariah 11:2
Trees have always stirred emotion in me that runs deep. As a child, much to my Mother’s dismay, I loved to climb them as high as I could possibly go - especially the sticky, sappy pines for some odd reason! Coming from a large family, it was a place for me to be alone, and felt safe within their branches. Rarely could I be found during neighborhood games of “hide and see!” Trees sheltered my secrets and kept me dry in the rain. Perhaps that is why the music of Enya in The Memory of Trees (released in 1995), touches my soul deeply every time I listen to it. Later in life, when my husband and I purchased our home, it was a blessing to me to have our house in the shelter of trees. I can still remember a profound sadness when one of our maples died and had to be removed.
As trees lift up their graceful branches with joy to God their creator each day, it is easy for me to imagine the elation they must feel! Have you ever heard the “wail” of trees? Under certain circumstances it is there. We have listened to their sounds in the wind. We have seen the effects of weather and neglect. We have seen the indifference toward them; the disrespect. Their joy and sadness can be felt by us if we allow it.
Trees live for many, many years. They are a life force that constantly gives to us! The oxygen their leaves provide renews the air we breathe. They ask for nothing really, just to be present. In trees we remember; often relating their presence to events in our lives. By measuring the growth of our back yard trees for example, to the lives and events of our families, we seem better able to put time in perspective. Many trees have been on this earth since before we were born! Just imagine the history they have been a part of! What have they witnessed that we haven’t? What have they felt and heard? Who has lived in their welcoming branches?
Our forests are disappearing. Neighborhood trees are replaced with pavement and new shopping malls. Our rainforests, which once covered 14% of the world and contributed more than 20% of the world’s oxygen, have diminished to 6%1. Their lack of presence is affecting the air we breathe, our weather conditions, never mind the quality of life in the areas being desecrated. Deforestation has caused flooding because tree roots are no longer there to hold the rain water putting many lives in jeopardy. Where have the birds gone? Where are the small animals and insects that once called these areas home? What happens to the cycle of our environment and the balance that these creatures are a part of? What are we doing to our earth?
We make attempts at replacing what we have destroyed with newly planted young trees and by creating playgrounds and activity spaces. Still, the older trees are gone forever. It will take many years for the new ones to attain what once was. In the years we have lived in our neighborhood alone, the miles and miles of trees and woodland that were once there, now house car dealerships, fast food restaurants as well as mammoth shopping areas. Certainly it has been in the name of progress these trees have been annihilated. The need for wood to build with, paper products, and need for living space have created these conditions. It was once thought that we would never run out of trees. For many years the affect of all of this was not even considered by most, but economics and to some extend greed overruled all those concerns.
What can we do? These trees and this land God has given us are gifts, and we are the caretakers of them and all in them. Our land is full of beauty, full of life and energy and it is up to us to preserve this for generations to come. We can take small steps to protect our environment if nothing else. We can advocate for the life of our trees whenever possible, even those of us who many not be “activists” can be a loud voice in multiple quiet ways, as we pray for guidance. Pray before making that purchase; before voicing concerns. Help lessen the fall of our beautiful, “stately trees,” and perhaps consider involvement in an organization to preserve our earth.
God of all creation guide our steps in preserving your earth and all in it - your trees and flowers, waters and air. These are your gifts to us. Let us not take them for granted or take this responsibility lightly.
1. Rainforest Facts, rain-tree.com
Copyright© 2013 Kathleen A. Matson
Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen, the stately trees
are ruined! Wail oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been
cut down! Zechariah 11:2
Trees have always stirred emotion in me that runs deep. As a child, much to my Mother’s dismay, I loved to climb them as high as I could possibly go - especially the sticky, sappy pines for some odd reason! Coming from a large family, it was a place for me to be alone, and felt safe within their branches. Rarely could I be found during neighborhood games of “hide and see!” Trees sheltered my secrets and kept me dry in the rain. Perhaps that is why the music of Enya in The Memory of Trees (released in 1995), touches my soul deeply every time I listen to it. Later in life, when my husband and I purchased our home, it was a blessing to me to have our house in the shelter of trees. I can still remember a profound sadness when one of our maples died and had to be removed.
As trees lift up their graceful branches with joy to God their creator each day, it is easy for me to imagine the elation they must feel! Have you ever heard the “wail” of trees? Under certain circumstances it is there. We have listened to their sounds in the wind. We have seen the effects of weather and neglect. We have seen the indifference toward them; the disrespect. Their joy and sadness can be felt by us if we allow it.
Trees live for many, many years. They are a life force that constantly gives to us! The oxygen their leaves provide renews the air we breathe. They ask for nothing really, just to be present. In trees we remember; often relating their presence to events in our lives. By measuring the growth of our back yard trees for example, to the lives and events of our families, we seem better able to put time in perspective. Many trees have been on this earth since before we were born! Just imagine the history they have been a part of! What have they witnessed that we haven’t? What have they felt and heard? Who has lived in their welcoming branches?
Our forests are disappearing. Neighborhood trees are replaced with pavement and new shopping malls. Our rainforests, which once covered 14% of the world and contributed more than 20% of the world’s oxygen, have diminished to 6%1. Their lack of presence is affecting the air we breathe, our weather conditions, never mind the quality of life in the areas being desecrated. Deforestation has caused flooding because tree roots are no longer there to hold the rain water putting many lives in jeopardy. Where have the birds gone? Where are the small animals and insects that once called these areas home? What happens to the cycle of our environment and the balance that these creatures are a part of? What are we doing to our earth?
We make attempts at replacing what we have destroyed with newly planted young trees and by creating playgrounds and activity spaces. Still, the older trees are gone forever. It will take many years for the new ones to attain what once was. In the years we have lived in our neighborhood alone, the miles and miles of trees and woodland that were once there, now house car dealerships, fast food restaurants as well as mammoth shopping areas. Certainly it has been in the name of progress these trees have been annihilated. The need for wood to build with, paper products, and need for living space have created these conditions. It was once thought that we would never run out of trees. For many years the affect of all of this was not even considered by most, but economics and to some extend greed overruled all those concerns.
What can we do? These trees and this land God has given us are gifts, and we are the caretakers of them and all in them. Our land is full of beauty, full of life and energy and it is up to us to preserve this for generations to come. We can take small steps to protect our environment if nothing else. We can advocate for the life of our trees whenever possible, even those of us who many not be “activists” can be a loud voice in multiple quiet ways, as we pray for guidance. Pray before making that purchase; before voicing concerns. Help lessen the fall of our beautiful, “stately trees,” and perhaps consider involvement in an organization to preserve our earth.
God of all creation guide our steps in preserving your earth and all in it - your trees and flowers, waters and air. These are your gifts to us. Let us not take them for granted or take this responsibility lightly.
1. Rainforest Facts, rain-tree.com
Copyright© 2013 Kathleen A. Matson