Growing up in Washington, the Evergreen State, I was always around and among trees—Douglas Fir, Spruce, Pine and the Western Hemlock—the State Tree. When I came to California for the first time, I drove Highway 101, and was able to experience the Redwoods. I was amazed. I went back to the Redwoods a couple more times, realizing it’s the perfect place for a road trip. Not only are those trees beautiful to see, but there are also some spiritual lessons that can be learned from them.
For clarification, I’m focusing on the Coastal Redwoods, which are not the same as the Sequoias that are found more inland (they are related—kind of like cousins). The Coastal Redwoods are some of the oldest living organisms on earth. Some of the Redwoods alive today were here during the time of the Roman Empire and at the time of Christ. They are over 2,000 years old! The tallest known redwood is about 380’ tall.
Redwoods can reproduce by seed (about the size of a tomato seed), from new sprouts, from a stump, or a downed tree’s root system. Their roots systems are relatively shallow compared to the size of the tree (about 6’-12’ deep), but they can extend up to a hundred feet, and through their system hold on to each other. For the Coastal Redwoods, 40% of their moisture intake comes from fog.
Whether it’s the Redwoods or Sequoias, trees like this get your attention when you see them for the first time. It’s kind of like when you see the Grand Canyon—you are overtaken by their size and beauty. You can’t help but be overwhelmed.
The Psalmist writes, “Lord my God, you are very great. The trees of the LORD are very well watered… There the birds make their nests,” (Psalm 104:1, 16, 17). All living things, created by God, have a “vocation,” or a means through which love can be shared and reflected. What is love? Biblical love is an action. It provides, protects, shares, gives, and sacrifices. It’s always an outward focus that benefits something else, and thereby benefits itself.
While doing some research on trees, I discovered some very cool things. One of them is that trees can “talk,” or communicate to each other. It’s been dubbed the “Wood Wide Web.” Trees may look like solitary individuals, but underground we find a different story. Underground, trees communicate and share through a network of fungi that grow around and inside their roots. By plugging in to the fungal network, trees can share resources with each other. Older trees use their nutrients to supply shaded seedlings with sugar, giving them a better chance of survival. They also use the network to send messages to one another. If attacked, they send chemical signals through their roots warning their neighbors to raise their defenses. The hidden network creates a thriving community between individuals—part of a big super organism, swapping food and information. Even trees reflect the sharing nature of God, their designer. So, I can go out on a limb and say, “trees can love.”
In learning about the Coastal Redwoods I was also amazed to find out that no one had ever really taken a look up in the tops of these massive trees. It’s been only since the 1990’s that someone took the opportunity to actually climb up and take a look. That first person was a guy by the name of Stephen Sillett. Sillet was a professor at Humboldt State, and an expert in the area of tall trees. He was the first one to ascend into the Redwood’s canopy, and discovered a whole new world and eco system. The canopies are made up of branches, thicker than one would think. Thick mats of accumulated soil becomes the medium in which other plants and animals can live. Berry bushes like huckleberries, flowers, ferns, plants and trees, invertebrates, animals and birds have been found in their canopies. Those giants offer themselves, and share for the benefit of other life and organisms.
Trees, the more you find out about them, the more you want to go and give them a big hug! And, after hugging the tree, praise God for what amazing things they are. We can learn things about God, the Creator, by trees. His fingerprints are all over them. Coastal Redwoods are giants that share. Trees give, by releasing oxygen, providing beauty, food and protection. Trees have been giving life long before human beings had a clue oxygen existed. They absorb carbon dioxide, they remove and store the carbon, while releasing oxygen. Trees clean the air.
In Psalm 1, we are encouraged to be like the tree “planted by steams of water… yields its fruit in season, and leaves do not wither.” They absorb, so they can share. That’s what we have been called to do as well. Absorb the living water and nutrients found in God’s Word, and release life and love and hope into the world around us. “We love, because he first loved us.” It was on a tree that Jesus absorbed all the contaminates of sin emitted from fallen humanity, and in exchange, breathed forth life and forgiveness.
As we leave the beautiful forest of Redwoods, I leave you with this thought I read: God delights in trees. “They are the only thing to which God gives a ring on each birthday.”
It’s great traveling with you.
Blessings.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment