Amazing Facts about Trees
You probably already know something about trees. You may know, for example, that they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, thus helping to maintain a healthy environment for other life forms–such as ourselves. They also reduce soil erosion. And they provide food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife. But here are some other facts that might amaze you.
+ Trees can talk. Perhaps communicate is a better word. Here’s an example. If insects begin to infest a tree, that tree will flood its leaves with a chemical that wards off insects. When other trees nearby “sense” what that tree is doing, they will begin the chemical repellent process immediately–even before a single insect has penetrated their domain! Trees “talk” through their roots, too, sharing valuable information about water and soil with each other.
+ Trees can get quite old. Some trees are the oldest living organisms on our planet. A bristlecone pine in the California White Mountains is more than 5,000 years old! Just think: it was 3,000 years old when Jesus walked the hills of Galilee. In fact, that tree was alive when woolly mammoths roamed the earth. The last woolly mammoth died about 4,000 years ago!
+Trees have been to the moon. In 1971, Apollo 14 carried hundreds of different tree seeds on their mission to the moon. NASA wanted to see what effect a trip in outerspace might have on the seeds. After circling the moon, the seeds returned back to earth and were eventually planted all over the U.S. and world. One loblolly pine tree, grown from one of those seeds, stands today on the White House grounds. You can goggle “moon seeds” to see if there is a moon tree near you. I did. And I learned that Ohio has two moon trees: a sycamore in Friendship Park, Jefferson County (Steubenville area) and a sweetgum in Wayne National Forest in Nelsonville (between Columbus and Athens).
+ Trees can hear. Trees can “hear” or sense water flowing underground and can adjust their roots accordingly.
+Trees can save you money. In summer they can slash your air-conditioning expenses by 30%. In winter, they can greatly reduce those cold weather drafts.
+ Trees can act like a compass. If you ever get lost in a forest, trees can help you find your way out. Simply look for moss growing on the trees. Moss grows on the north side of a tree in the northern hemishpere, and on the south side in the southern hemisphere.
+ Trees grow from the top. If you hang a birdhouse on a lower branch of a young tree, it won’t move up the tree as the tree grows. That’s because trees grow from the top. But you might find your birdhouse on the ground someday, because some trees discard their lower branches as they grow taller.
+ Different parts of the tree grow at different times of the year. Tree foliage grows in the spring, trunks grow in the summer, and roots grow in the winter.
+ Trees reach out for help. Trees are not afraid to ask for help when they need it. When an apple tree is beset with caterpillars, for example, it will release a chemical that attracts caterpillar-eating birds! (If only we human beings were just as willing to reach out for help when we need it!)
+ Some quotes about trees. “People who plant trees knowing that they will never sit in their shade, have at least started to understand the meaning of life.” Rabindranath Tagore … “Time spent among trees is never wasted.” Katrina Mayer … “A culture is no better than its woods.” W.H. Auden… “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Chinese proverb.
+Trees can make us kinder. Partly because they release chemicals called phytoncides (also known as “essential oils”) that have been shown to reduce blood pressure and lessen anxiety.
+ Trees are great symbols: Trees represent harmony and balance… life and death… strength and calmness… slow steady growth… stability. Aren’t these values and concepts we strive to reflect in our own lives? Jesus must have liked trees. Two examples: He compared the Kingdom of God to a tree (Mt. 13:31-32), and he often went to the grove of olive trees to pray.
These are just a few amazing facts about trees. But one fact we must never overlook is this: Trees are incredibly beautiful!
For reflection:
Did anything catch your attention in today’s reflection?
Did you have any favorite trees in your childhood? or now at this time in your life?
What tree do you think is the most beautiful tree?
Are there any other lessons we can learn from trees?
Look around your house today and notice all the things that are made from wood. Maybe even your house is! Don’t forget the books and paper you see! Give thanks for all the different kind of trees that have made your daily living possible!
Say “thank you” to a specific tree you see or meet today.
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PS: Every time I publish a new book, I thank the trees that made the many copies of my new book possible! Right now, my newest book is being printed. It is entitled Sunflower Seeds of Hope and is based on my blog. I’ve been writing my blog since February 2012. That means I have written about 600 different reflections. So I selected 40 of them from over the years (I had a 128 page limit) and edited them for the book. Each reflection includes reflective questions, a suggested video, and two or three readers’ comments from my blog! That means many of you helped me write this book! I’ll let you know when Sunflower Seeds of Hope is available at Twenty-Third Publications and on Amazon. A BIG thank you to all of you for supporting my blog!
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As I said, trees are beautiful. I’m offering two videos that reinforce this idea. The first is a 3 minute video called “The Tree.” It highlights the beauty of trees through simple yet stunning pictures of trees and soothing piano music. It is produced by Juliano. The second video (18 mins.) is called “Rewilding a Forest.” It tells the story of Swedish poet and artist Maria Westerberg who lives in the forest her family has owned for four generations. An infestation of bark beetles began to destroy the pine trees around her. She watched in horror as the dying trees’ needles began raining down upon her, and she heard yet another dead tree fall to the ground. Eventually, she and her good friend Johannes found a way to begin to “rewild the forest.” I found their story uplifting and hopeful. I also loved her creative artwork largely fashioned from the sticks and branches on the forest floor. This short film won many film awards. I can see why!
“The Tree”
“Rewilding a Forest”: This video has closed captions. Just click on cc at the bottom.
I encourage you to add a comment to my blog below. For example, share your answer to one of the questions. Or what did you notice, think, or feel about either of the videos? We would all love to hear from you!
Advent Comes with Good News, a Promise, and a Challenge
The readings for Advent are filled with good news. Here are a few samples:
“Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace forever” … (Ps. 72:7)
“In days to come… they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” … (Is. 2:4)
“The calf and young lion shall browse together, with a little child to lead them… (Is. 11:6)
“The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all the faces… (Is. 25:8)
“The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear?”… (Ps. 27:1 (KJV)
“Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.” (Ps. 126:5)
“The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst.” … (Is. 30:20)
Jesus said to the Twelve: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” … (Mt. 10:7)
“Shout for joy… the Lord is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.” (Zeph. 3:17)
Little wonder many of us are drawn to this season, for we live in a world where we could use all the good news we can get!
But Advent is not merely a time to luxuriate in all this good news. It’s not a time to say, “How nice! Look at all the marvelous things God did in the past.” No, the good news of the Advent season comes with a promise and a challenge too. The promise is this: God continues to do marvelous things in the here and now of today! And the challenge is: We must actively partner with God to do our small part in bringing about the good news we dream about and long for. How do we do this? By being Jesus in our time and place. By using the talents we have been entrusted with. And we do this among the people God puts into our daily life. It’s as simple–and as daunting–as that!
This Advent we might begin by taking stock of some of our talents, gifts, abilities, knacks, skills. Maybe we’re a good cook, have a knack for fixing things, are good with children, have a great sense of humor, are essentially kind, write well, sing well, relate well to teenagers or the elderly, have organizational skills, possess artistic talents, know how to work hard, are a fine coach, are a good listener. (I read once that listening is so close to loving that they’re often the same thing.) We thank God for our gifts and then ask: How might I put one or more of these talents at the service of another or others?
We might also want to reflect on what sometimes gets in the way of using our gifts for others? Maybe we’re afraid, always in a rush, have made no time for prayer, lack patience, possess little energy, are wrapped up in our own little world, or are feeling pretty hopeless right now. We can make our “lacks” part of our prayer, asking God this Advent to give us courage, patience, humility, kindness, energy, hope, or whatever else we feel we lack.
The refrain or mantra for the Advent season is, “O come, O come Emmanuel.” I always remember what my scripture professor at Duquesne, Fr. Demetrius Dumm, OSB, said about that word Emmanuel. It means more than God is with us. It means things like this: God is for us… God is on our side… God is in our corner. In other words, Emmanuel means God stands ready to help us in our endeavors to be Jesus and to help bring forth that better world promised to us in our Advent readings.
Let us pray:
Loving God, Giver of all Gifts, help us to identify the talents and skills you have entrusted to us. May we find creative ways to use our gifts for the good of others. Emmanuel, you are with us… for us… on our side… in our corner. This Advent, helps us to be Jesus in our particular place and circumstances. We ask these things relying on your promises and your unending love. Amen.
For reflection:
Does Advent hold any special meaning or feelings for you personally?
Are there some people in your life who are using their talents or gifts at the service of others? How are they doing this?
What special grace are you asking for this Advent? Why?
PS: I led the Advent retreat in Erie, PA on Saturday morning via Zoom. A blizzard moved into the Great Lakes area Friday blocking my I-90 route and dumping about 20 inches of snow in Erie! But I thank the SSJ Sisters who gathered in their living center and the other folks who made the retreat from their homes. A special thanks to my contact person, Nancy, and to Sr. Rosemary who ran the technical aspects with such skill! And thank you too for your prayers!
I am offering three versions of the Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The first is by the group Mannheim Steamroller. It’s one of my favorites. This version is in Latin and uses stark bells as an accompaniment. The second is a more traditional version in English and song by the Sunday 7 p.m. Choir. The third one is by Tommee Profitt, American songwriter and record producer. His version, very contemporary, is sung by a young peoples’ choir. Take your pick–or (in the course of the week) listen to all three of them!
Manheim Steamroller:
7 p.m. Sunday Choir:
Tommee Profitt’s version:
I encourage you to write a simple comment below about this reflection or about Advent in general. We love hearing from one another!
The “Unthinkably Brilliant” Web of Existence
One perk in life is having friends who work in a library. They are forever recommending good books for you to read. My library-friend recently recommended this book to me: A God in the House, edited by Ilya Kaminsky and Katherine Tower. The blurb says the book is “a collection of conversations about spirituality and the craft of writing…featuring nineteen of America’s leading poets.” When I read those words, I was hooked! I also thought this reflection might be an appropriate one for Thanksgiving Day.
Today I’m focusing on one sentence that caught my attention. It is written by Elinor Wilner, an award-winning poet who lives in Philadephia. She tells how two atrocious historic events greatly impacted her childhood: the pictures of the Allied forces coming upon the skeletal prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps, and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Eventually, what helped her to put these acts of “managed savagery” into perspective, was her awareness “of a larger exstence that transcends human atrocities and follies of history,” a reality she calls “the great and unthinkably brilliant and complex web of life…in which we have our unlikely existence, and of which our awareness gives us some understanding.”
Words that stood out for me were these. Unthinkably brilliant. What kind of Mind, Force, Higher Power, or God created such a great and complex web? We can ponder that for a lifetime. Maybe for all eternity. A web in which we have our unlikely existence. Scientists say the genesis of life on planet earth was almost a mathematical impossibility! Too many conditions had to be in perfect alignment for life to begin–let alone to evolve into complex forms such as Monarch butterflies, ants, blue whales, chickens, and human beings. Our awareness of this web gives us some understanding, not full understanding.
One conclusion I drew from Wilner’s sentence was this: How vital it is for us to nourish our awareness–on a regular basis–of our connectedness to this brilliantly fashioned web of existence. We can do this in countless ways. Here are a few:
+ step outside: observe, sit, walk, stroll, run, bask, admire, smell, listen, touch, taste, converse with, gaze upon this visible world. For many of us, April 8’s total solar eclipse provided exceptional nourishment of our awareness of a larger world that transcends “human atrocities and follies.”
+ take care of a part of nature: tend to the fallen leaves, feed the birds, walk a dog, shovel snow, adopt a spider plant, dust the furniture, mop the floor, grow some herbs, mow the lawn, trim the bushes, play with a cat, compost, mulch, recyle.
+ share with your fellow earthlings: donate some food to the local food bank, drop off some dogfood or catfood at the animal shelter, write a check to your alma mater, pick up litter, help pay for the Christmas poinsettia plants or Easter lilies for your church, take someone grocery shopping with you, give flowers to the parish secretary, generously tip the waitstaff, email or text an old friend, write a thank you note.
+ maintain healthy social connections: meet a friend for lunch, host a family potluck dinner, stay in touch with the news, offer to drive someone to the doctor, hug a child, visit the zoo, cheer at a kids’ basketball or baseball game, corral a few neighbors into helping you throw a block party, check in on an elderly relative or neighbor, worship with others on Sunday.
And finally, +pray: commune daily with Our Creator God who brought forth this incredible web of existence and who lovingly sustains it every single day!
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For reflection:
Did any words or sentences or pictures stand out for you in this reflection? If so, why?
What are some of the ways you nourish the awareness of your connection with this “unthinkably brilliant” web of existence?
How do you keep all the evil in our world from overwhelming you? In other words, how do you keep your hope and enthusiasm for life alive despite all “our human atrocities and follies”?
PS: I ask your prayers for a morning Advent retreat I will be giving this Saturday for the Sisters of St. Joseph and their associates in Erie, PA. We will be reflecting on two Advent themes: Mary and Hope. Thank you!
Our song today is “For the Beauty of the Earth” written by Folliott Pierpont in 1864. Here is a newer arrangement by Rick Modlin which emphasizes our oneness with creation, with one another, with the Church, and with Our Beloved God.
I invite you to leave a comment below!
Heal Us, Loving God
I’ve been doing some reflecting on healing these days–not merely the physical kind, but other kinds as well. Here’s a little prayer that arose from my reflecting…
“Heal Us, Loving God”
Heal us, Loving God, from our tendency to judge others. Remind us that we have no idea what burdens others may be bearing… Heal us from pettiness. It prevents us from seeing the bigger picture… Heal us from the need to win every argument. Remind us that losing an argument can be a blessing.
Heal us, Loving God, from taking life too flippantly–or too seriously… from thinking of ourselves only as consumers rather than givers and sharers… Heal us from the kind of constant worrying that prevents us from doing the good you are entrusting us to do.
Heal us, Loving God, from taking the beauty and mystery of existence for granted… from a cynicism that insists, “No better world is possible!… Give up already!”… Heal us from rushing so much to get things done, that we miss seeing, appreciating, and connecting with the people you put into our everyday life.
Heal us, Loving God: from being slaves to the clock… from an incessant need to be in control… from criticizing others who are very different from ourselves–or who are very much like ourselves.
Heal us, Loving God: from the fear that prevents us from taking risks for justice and compassion for all… Heal us from thinking that the only way we show our love for you is by our total physical exhaustion. Rather help us to cherish the virtues of rest, play, and humor… Heal us from the need to have You and everyone else operate on our time schedule.
Heal us, Loving God: from the viciousness of jealousy… from the tyranny of greed… from the demon of revenge… Heal us from The Great Untruth that says we are all isolated individuals walking on this earth–rather than embracing The Blazing Truth: we are all one interconnected community of beings of the earth.
Heal us, Loving God: from thinking of our faith as a set of rules to follow rather than a personal, loving, life-long relationship with You… Heal us from the kind of certitude that slams the door on further growth, deeper undertsanding, and greater compassion… Heal us from a lack of trust in Your love and promises. Keep these words of yours alive always in our hearts: “I have loved you with an everlasting love… The Kingdom of Heaven is in your midst… Behold, I am with you always.”
Heal us, Loving God, heal us. Amen.
For reflection:
Did any request for healing stand out for you?
Did you find yourself anywhere in this prayer?
What other kinds of healing do you think we can we ask for from God? Would you like to share any of these with us below?
Our video is a simple song called “Heal Us Lord” by Keka Zucha. This version includes the lyrics plus simple arm and hand gestures that you might want to do (standing or seated) as you listen and pray along. I found the experience to be prayerful and calming.
I welcome your comments below. I always enjoy reading them!
Time for a Humor Break
Several times a year I devote my blog to humor. After all, humor is good for our physical health. Laughter enhances our intake of oxygen, stimulates our heart, lungs, and other muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by our brain. Laughter is good for our spiritual health too. Even the book of Proverbs says, “A merry heart is health for the body” (Pr. 17:22). I hope these jokes, quips, riddles, stories , and pictures, will help put a smile on your face.
Let’s start with a few jokes for kids. If you have any little kids in your life, you might want to try out these riddles on them:
Why did the cookie go to the nurse? Because he felt crumby.
Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9.
What did the man say to his fingers? “I’m counting on you.”
What kind of a cat likes to live in water? An octo-puss.
Now here are three knock, knock jokes:
“Knock! Knock!” “Who’s there?”
“Howl.” “Howl who?”
“Howl you know unless you open the door!”
“Knock! Knock!” “Who’s there?”
“Figs.” “Figs who?”
“Figs the doorbell. I’ve been knocking for hours!”
“Knock! Knock!” “Who’s there?”
“Tank!” “Tank who?”
“You’re wlecome!”
Okay, let’s move this along with a few stories:
The lawyer opened the will of the deceased man in front of his eager family. He smiled and said, “This is a surprise! He left it all to me!”
A company owner was asked how she motivated her employees to be on time. She smiled and replied, “It’s simple. I have 30 employees and 29 free parking spaces. One is paid parking.”
A boy went into a toy store, selected a toy car, took it to the check out, and handed the cashier some Monopoly money. The cashier said, “This money isn’t real, kiddo.” Said the boy, “That’s okay. Neither is the car.”
My poor knowledge of Greek mythology has always been my Achilles’ elbow.
Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your x. She’s never coming back and don’t ask y!
Fun fact: women spend more time wondering what men are thinking then men actually spend thinking.
My two children were watching me trying to assemble a swing set. Tightening the screws was hard for me, so I asked their father to help. He swaggered out and easily tightened the screws. My 3-year-old blurted out, “Mommy makes things, and then Daddy screws them up.”
What did one snowman say to the other snowman? “It smells like carrots over here.”
I invented a new word: plagiarism!
Words of wisdom:
When in doubt, look intelligent. (Garrison Keillor)
All you need is love. But a little chocolate every now and then doesn’t hurt. (Charles Schultz)
When kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finally finished, I climb out again. (Erma Bombeck)
You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake. (Bob Hope)
People can’t drive you crazy if you don’t give them the keys! (Mike Bechtle)
I love being married! It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. (Rita Rudner)
Once again, a few more stories:
Mom: Where are your dirty clothes?
10-year-old: On the floor.
Mom: Where should they be?
10-year-old: On the floor where you can’t see them!
My husband showed our 5-year-old son a picture of himself when he was 16 and asked if he knew who it was. Our son stared at the picture for a long time before saying, “It’s me when I get bigger.”
I told a chemistry joke once. I didn’t get much of a reaction.
A computer translated these words from English into Russian: “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” = “The whiskey is agreeable but the meat has gone bad.”
What did the termite say when he walked into the bar? “Where’s the bar tender?”
My girlfriend treats me like God. She ignores my existence and only talks to me when she needs something.
And last but not least:
For reflection:
Did any of these items make you smile?
Would you like to add a joke or riddle or humorous story below?
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Prayer for Veterans’ Day
God of Love, today we honor all our veterans, those unselfish men and women who responded courageously to the call to serve and protect our country. With grateful hearts, we thank them for their service. And we ask that we all may continue the unending struggle to preserve our cherished freedoms and to work continuously for lasting world peace. Amen.
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One of my favorite lines from the pslams is this: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Ps. 30:5 KJV). In fact, I like those words so much, I chose it for the title for one of my books, With the Dawn Rejoicing: A Christian Perspective on Pain and Suffering. The words remind us that pain and sorrow do NOT have the last word! Joy and laughter do! That’s what Jesus’ resurrection is all about. In other words, we have hope not because everything is the way we want it to be–but because we believe in God’s power, grace, and promises… Here’s the song “Joy in the Morning” by Tauren Wells. I especally appreciate the lines: “If it’s not good then God isn’t done with it yet… Grace will be there when you’re at the end of your rope… The story’s not over.”
Please feel invited to share a comment below!
