Trees

Two poets commented on trees; one took an anthropomorphic approach, the other was more whimsical:

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
-BY JOYCE KILMER,

…then, Ogden Nash offers a more whimsical approach to our perennial woody friends;

I think that I shall never see
a billboard lovely as a tree.
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
I’ll never see a tree at all.
-Ogden Nash

The first complaint I remember about someone cutting down a tree, was from an uncle; he stopped by the road where Grandaddy said an Oak tree needed to come down. I could not hear his brother’s words—he was railing something about killing a tree that had taken decades to grow. After his rant, he stomped off toward his car, and sped off to his farm. I didn’t quite see his point, since out in the country there we were engulfed in trees.

I think Kilmer captured the essence of God’s intent; to give humanity the task, no, the opportunity for stewardship of this green planet (well, green so far). God called forth green intending to grow plants and trees, to enhance life in a healthy environment. Well it was a great idea, but you guessed it—the human element got greedy and now we got what we got. The ‘Dust Bowl’ of the 1930’s is an example of a human-created catastrophe. The Dust Bowl disaster was essentially redeemed by strategically planting trees. They are good for holding the soil, retaining moisture, and being wind barriers reducing blown dust.

Clear-cutting is a critical matter obviously. We have not learned from history; clear-cutting for settlements and farming did massive damage to our countryside. A treeless landscape is a hazard to the environment; think “The Dust Bowl.” Even now, on a thoroughfare near our house, there are three estates—that I can see— being clear-cut for dense development; they are hulking gouges into the enticing verdure of that street.

Trees Atlanta partners with community members, businesses, and organizations to conserve and expand the urban forest in which we live. The organization brings into sharp focus, the need for a good tree canopy as contrasted with pavement, concerte, and buildings. Some scientific studies are now verifying that several treeless places in the city—having been measured with electronic meters—are actually hot spots; ground-coverage of pavement and development, sans trees is the primary cause.

The Prophet Jeremiah pointed out that the fathers’ sins have consequences that affect generations to follow; it should be a cautionary tale, calling us all to be better stewards of the earth. Jeremiah precedes that warning by announcing the good news of God’s providence. On a lighter biblical note, a tree played a key role enabling Zacchaeus to see, and later have dinner with Jesus.

I like to think God had in mind that trees would to populate the earth, providing food, fun, fragrance, and fundamental support for humanity. As in the verse I cited earlier, God said, Let the earth grow plant life: plants yielding seeds and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds inside it, each according to its kind throughout the earth. Doesn’t that sound as if God provides trees as another way to show his love for us?