Trees Are The Answer
Coming out of the market a little while ago, the car next to mine had a bright green bumper sticker that caught my eye. It read “trees are the answer.” For a moment or two, I contemplated digging out a pen and a piece of paper and leaving a message on the car owner’s windshield “answer to what?” I left it alone unlike a few years ago. I was driving home from work, tired and stuck in traffic. The car ahead of me had a bumper sticker that read “believe in trees.” Eventually finding myself next to that car, I unrolled my passenger window and called out to the driver “do you have a suggestion as to which tree I should believe in?” An unwise move in Los Angeles but fortunately for me, I chose a driver that was harmless. Perhaps it was his belief in trees that kept him from reacting.
What’s this fascination with trees? Don’t get me wrong, trees are great. They provide an incredible amount of shade in my back yard. The trees in my backyard are home to wildlife such as the squirrels, birds that I see. I love sitting in my backyard with a good book listening to the wildlife go about their lives in the trees in my back yard. But believe in them? For what? Life’s answers? World peace? Stop hunger? Or on a smaller scale, perhaps provide answers as what outfit I should wear.
No, I think not. I thank my God that He created the trees and the other creation for me to enjoy. I see His handiwork as I trek through the mountains near my home, the sun setting on the trees, the smell of the leaves on a wet ground. I see His handiwork as I watch the clouds slowly move along. I hear his handiwork as I listen to the birds chirp at each other in the evening before they bed down.
For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Ps. 19: 1-4.] (Rom 1:20 AMP)
God created the trees and regretably humanity now turns to the trees for answers. Bumper stickers ask us to believe and place our faith in trees. I am as likely to find answers in trees as I am in the fortune cookie that came with my dinner the other night. I did not read it for the same reason I won’t request answers from the trees in my backyard. I have grown up since my encounter with the driver whose bumper sticker asked that people believe in trees. I simply ask myself what are trees supposed to do other than the purpose that God created them. And more sadly why people are expecting or hoping trees, which are nothing more than a wonderful creation of God, will provide them life’s answers. Sad indeed.
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I think maybe you’re reading too much into it.
The destruction of the rainforest is a serious problem and should not be taken lightly. Deforestation is a huge problem. http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/envFacts/facts/deforestation.htm
So, yes, trees are the answer. Of course, they are not the only answer and “worshipping” trees is never the answer, but I don’t think people are expecting a tree to provide life’s answers.
Hi, I agree that there is a problem with the deforestation of the rain forest, a real tragedy. Again, I do not understand what trees are the answer to. Shade? Oxygen? A home for critters? I agree. People are putting putting bumper stickers on their cars saying to believe in trees or that they are the answers to shade, oxygen, climate control? It does not make sense to make the leap from ‘believe in trees’ to shade & oxygen. Peope are more likely to make the connection to deforestation with something like “save the trees” or something along those lines than belief or trust in trees.