First of all, I would like to thank the trees. Since even
before we peered above the tall grasses and took our first upright
steps, trees have given us so much. Things like: shelter, fire, food, clean air,
inspiration, and of course the ability to create the tools we imagined
and needed to enjoy our short lives.
Recently,
I had a dream that I could suddenly hear the trees talking. Oh the things
they said... From what I gathered, they hated us. After realizing that I
could hear them, one old tree took an interest in me. It told me that
things hadn't always been this way. Below is a small part of our
conversation.
"Long ago, when your people
climbed down from our loving arms to the ground below things were good.
We loved you. And even when you walked your first elevated steps, things
were good and we loved you. We felt proud that we could help you and
enjoyed watching your little minds grow and learn. And things were good
and we loved you. Even when you first cut us down to burn our bodies to warm
yourselves in the cold or to make a shelter, a tool or a weapon, things were
good. Eventually, you came to respect us, and you honored our fallen. You immortalized them in functionally beautiful pieces of art or
furniture. But now, now you waste us. You make us into useless garbage, poison
us, and tear us down to make room for a strip mall. Just so your
environment doesn't look too different from the others like you. Instant
satisfaction, cheaply made crap, and a detachment from where the things come from
that you place temporary value upon rule the day...."
The
old tree didn't hold back, and It was right. We, as a species, lack
empathy and the basic understanding of effort. The pride associated with
craft is lost on us. It doesn't sit well in our sterilized and spoiled
lives. I didn't say much to the old tree. I think I blurted, "My bad..."
or something like that.
We should all be
thankful for trees. I am not saying that you should go out and hug one.
Just start out with a simple "hello" or a "thank you."