Trees I Have Loved, Part 4

Baby girl painted this tree for me, randomly, a few months ago. She has amazing insight sometimes, this little one, pulling images and phrases "out of the everywhere into here," unaware of their breathtaking significance for those of us who have been on this path longer than she has.

A Little Further Along the Way

The straight and narrow path has been a tortuous climb here lately, beset by rockslides hurtling down on my head, confounded by chasms suddenly yawning before my feet. But by the grace of God, a trinity of fellow travelers, faithful friends, has come alongside to encourage and exhort, to be here with me. In His mercy, I have seen, even from these precarious places, glimpses of a far green country. Because of the Lord's great love I am not consumed.

Trees for Life

Here's a beautiful website I discovered last week: http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/ There's some especially neat stuff under the Caledonian Forest tab: species profiles, images of the forest, mythology and folklore.

Trees I Have Loved, Part 3

And as they watched, upon the mound there came forth two slender shoots; and silence was over all the world in that hour, nor was there any other sound save the chanting of Yavanna. Under her song the saplings grew and became fair and tall, and came to flower; and thus there awoke in the world the Two Trees of Valinor...The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. The other bore leaves of a young green like the new-opened beech; their edges were of glittering gold. Flowers swung upon her branches in clusters of yellow flame, formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground; and from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light. Telperion the one was called in Valinor, and Silpion and Ninquelote, and many other names; but Laurelin the other was, and Malinalda, and Culurien, and many names in song beside. ~Quenta Silmarillion, Of the Beginning of Days, J.R.R. Tolkien

Trees I Have Loved, Part 2

There is a touchstone tree in the corner yard at the top of my block. This tree - I think it's an ash tree - embodies to me the very essence of tree-ness. It is quite large, filling but not crowding the space it inhabits. It is of substantial, well-proportioned girth, emanating solidity and strength. It is pleasingly but not too perfectly symmetrical. Its limbs stretch to every perimeter of the yard, at such a height as to be sheltering and shading but not smothering.

The house at the corner has stood empty at various times during my sojourn here - it stands empty now. But the tree is untroubled in its solitude, a friendly sentinel, waiting watchful and welcoming.

Along the Way

It's an iconic image of relaxation - a hammock slung between two trees, inviting rest, inspiring closed-eyed contemplation, intimating repose. Every so often along this journey, we round a bend in our straight and narrow path and come upon a hammock, graciously provided for our respite near streams in the desert, slung between pines in the wasteland.

Trees I Have Loved, Part 1

The trees of my earliest memories are those in Grandma's yard. Mama remembers when, during her childhood, the house was built and the trees were planted; by the time of my early childhood, some twenty years later, the place was comfortably settled and had, at least to my small consciousness, the air of that which always had been and always would be.

Dominating the front yard were two ash trees, their massive trunks strong and steadfast, their graceful boughs spreading, sheltering and shading the yard, making a living canopy of dappled light and shadow under which my cousins and brother and I could play untroubled by the hot South Texas sun.

The Path of Paradox

It is something of a paradox, this path between the trees. Straight is the gate and narrow is the way; yet it winds along through various terrains, twisting and turning, with minor bumps here and major detours there. It leads through the sea, across the desert, into the valley, up to the high places. It brings us to way stations in expected places, beside rivers of water in dry places and in the shadows of great rocks in weary lands; and in places unthought-of, in the presence of our enemies. Some days we jog along in companionable conversation with fellow travelers, at times we walk in thoughtful silence, some nights we toil uphill feeling utterly spent and alone, forgetting that a Friend journeys with us, closer than a brother.

How I Feel About Trees

Trees to me are strength, stability, solace. I feel sheltered and soothed under their shadows. Serendipitously, two of the most-frequently-traveled thoroughfares of my daily life are lovely, tree-lined boulevards. I often find myself breathing deeply and calming as I drive along under the arching boughs, a fact unknown to but nonetheless undoubtedly beneficial to those whose paths intersect mine on this journey.