Quote of the day: “All our wisdom is stored in the trees.” — Santosh Kalwar
Every morning when I meditate, I sit in a chair by the bedroom window that overlooks the pond. This morning before I settled in to the quiet I noticed the reflections of the trees in the open water of the pond. Later this morning I went outside to make photographs of the beautiful reflections. That exercise got me started thinking about the wisdom of trees.
Patiently they wait for spring (unlike myself and many other people I know).
As far as I know trees don’t complain about being rooted in one place for their entire lives. Nor do they complain about winter or cold winds.
I am convinced of several characteristics of trees—they are wise, benevolent, and patient.
I know it sounds crazy to attribute such characteristics to trees. But I have felt their patience and wisdom and benevolence while walking in the woods or sitting with the trees in my back yard.
When I was younger and suffered through more drama and feelings of angst, it was the trees I turned to. Listening to their whisperings of hope and patience and wisdom got me through many dark days.
And now that I am older I can say without feeling too crazy that I think trees have feelings.
Once after a devastating windstorm where hundreds of old trees were blown down and uprooted, I thought I heard the trees wailing.
A recent program on PBS reported on the intelligence of plants, how they change their chemical makeup to fight off insects and even seem to cooperate with relatives. This was no surprise to me, except perhaps to learn that scientists are now studying the intelligence of plants.
Trees are my favorite plants, although I also love wildflowers and plants of all kinds. But trees have always been special to me. I remember playing under the trees on the farm where I grew up, climbing trees, and swinging on the swing-set under a huge old maple tree.
Always I look for trees. One of the reasons that I choose to live in Minnesota with it’s long winters is because of the wonderful trees and woodlands here.
Wherever you live, take a walk in the woods if you can. Listen to the trees and see if you don ‘t agree that they are wise.
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