There is a day dedicated to appreciating trees, specifically fruit trees! This is not about saving the trees or hugging the trees or even planting trees. So what is it?? This is a time to think about what trees do for us and what we can learn from the trees themselves.
Trees. Tall, short, full, slight. It does not make a difference. Every fruit tree is a miracle. Take a look at an apple seed, for instance. A tiny, brown, bitter seed. We just throw it in the trash. But, instead of throwing that one tiny seed away, what if we bury that seed in dirt. And we water it. And we make sure it has sunlight. What happens to that one tiny seed? It sprouts! At first just a small stem and few leaves. But, given enough dirt, water and sunlight, that tiny seed will turn into an eight foot tall strong apple tree, replete with thick branches and blossoms and, eventually, hundreds of apples! All from one seed.
We humans pride ourselves on our ability to create. Do we actually create? The telephone, the washing machine, the car, medicine, cake, light bulbs. These are all wonderful inventions, however, upon closer investigation, we must admit that we are simply putting elements together in new ways. We are building and building with inspiration and imagination. But we are not actually creating. That apple tree started with a single seed, but even humans cannot create a seed!
What do we learn from trees? More than can be written here!! We learn that we need strong roots to stand tall, we learn that we must reach for the sky, no matter the obstacles, we learn that every year we can start anew, we learn that even if something looks “dead” it might be truly alive within.
Let us stand tall, and live up to potential our parents put into us. Instead of dirt and water and sunlight we were given hugs and food and love. Let us grow from our “roots” and sprout our own “fruit” in good deeds and children.