TREE-OLOGY

Humor me! Name seven reasons why you are grateful for trees.

If we are honest with each other, most of us take trees for granted. They are just part of our ecosystem. We are much more likely to become vexed with them than to be grateful for their presence. I am married to a converted tree lover. Why converted? He has been known to have a few removed just because the tree was in the wrong place. His love of trees is substantiated by the number of photos taken of him all over the world posing (hugging) with trees. He appreciates them and I honor his requests to take his picture. I have never asked what changed his heart about trees.

I had trouble naming seven reasons which disturbed me a bit. I am an outdoors person so it should have been easy. I am well aware that trees are for our survival on this planet – the conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen. To be blunt, no trees, no life – just take a drive across the desert. A mature tree supplies enough oxygen for eighteen people to live. That in itself is enough of a reason to be grateful.

Trees are the biggest plants on the planet. They combat climate change, clean the air and cool our streets and home with the shade they provide – conserving energy. If you have ever been to a place where deforestation has/is occurring, you know that trees and their roots are important for soil conservation. Forest fires leave land barren which leads to mudslides.

A single apple tree can yield 15-20 bushels of apples a year. That is a lot of apple pies, sauce, jelly, butter etc. And what about animals, trees supply homes for birds, bees, squirrels and possums. And when one is feeling stressed, ten minutes of walking along a tree lined trail can calm the body, mind, and soul. The tree hugger and I have a firepit in the backyard, it would be useless without -trees.

Have I given you ample reasons to be thankful for trees? Spring is here. Everywhere I turn, including the weather on TV, I hear my fellow earth dwellers complaining about the pollen levels and the woes of springtime maladies related to trees, grass and flowers. I am not minimizing their suffering. I do have two simple question to put on the table – where would we be without the trees? What else and who else are you taking for granted?

Genesis 1:11

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---I am connected to every other living thing on earth.