Learn From the Sprout

Treeamble

Once upon a time, before time, beyond my perception, there was a thought.

Once upon a time, long after time came to be, there was a sprout. This sprout grew until it became a tree. This tree grew until it became enormous. It became a home to many types of life. It provided food, oxygen, and refreshing shade.

It gave so much to so many, in so many ways until a short sighted need, blinded by greed toppled it. Selfishness is like an ax. We all hold it in our hand. We may see an opportunity, but a dead tree can't provide air, food, or refreshing shade. We might build something from it's dead carcass. It may last for a time, but eventually the dead wood will rot away.

Only the stump remained.

Count the years it lived. It's roots grew deep in the earth. Each ring of this toppled tree tells a story of endurance. There were dry years and wet years. This tree thrived because unlike the short sighted greed of selfishness, which can only build with wood that will eventually decay, this toppled tree had hope.

At the scent of water it will sprout. It will make its own food from the light from above. The sprout will grow into a branch. Year after year it will grow tall and wide. It will become a home to many types of life once again. It will breathe, and drink water. It's roots will grow even deeper than before. It will refresh. It will endure. It will thrive.

We can learn so much from a tree. If you live to see a tree's rings, then you haven't really lived. Life grows, and truly living means helping other living things to grow and thrive as well. Living doesn't cut life down. Truly living seeks to understand the tree. Perhaps that is why the word tree rhymes with the word eternity. That is why we should all want to be like a tree. What is a tree, but life persevering?