Changes

A tree starts out as a tiny seed with apparently little chance of survival.  It must find nourishment deep in the soil, and it must defy gravity by growing towards the sky for sunlight.  Typically no humans help it.  The tree has to make it on its own, and deal with tornadoes, hurricanes, and hostile animals.  The tree never “owns” anything.

A tree starts out as a tiny seed with apparently little chance of survival.  It must find nourishment deep in the soil, and it must defy gravity by growing towards the sky for sunlight.  Typically no humans help it.  The tree has to make it on its own, and deal with tornadoes, hurricanes, and hostile animals.  The tree never “owns” anything.

Tree limbs are very heavy, to the point of crushing houses or killing people when they do fall.  The tree has to raise and support its heavy limbs against gravity.  The flow of a tree’s nutrients is also against gravity.  Trees grow in unexpected places, and sometimes around pre-existing obstacles.  Out west roads have even been cut through trees, and they still survive and thrive.

Tree limbs are very heavy, to the point of crushing houses or killing people when they do fall.  The tree has to raise and support its heavy limbs against gravity.  The flow of a tree’s nutrients is also against gravity.  Trees grow in unexpected places, and sometimes around pre-existing obstacles.  Out West roads have even been cut through trees, and they still survive and thrive.

Yet the difficulties in surviving are what make a tree strong.  Each day it grows in two directions: downward further into the soil towards more nutrients, and upwards into the sky towards more sunlight.  Its growth is not easy in either direction.  The more it has to reach for nourishment, the bigger and stronger it becomes.  Trees that are given their nutrients, as in a laboratory, do not grow as large and powerful as trees that must struggle to survive in the wild.

Yet the difficulties in surviving are what make a tree strong.  Each day it grows in two directions: downward further into the soil towards more nutrients, and upwards into the sky towards more sunlight.  Its growth is not easy in either direction.  The more it has to reach for nourishment, the bigger and stronger it becomes.  Trees that are given their nutrients, as in a laboratory, do not grow as large and powerful as trees that must struggle to survive in the wild.