tree friends

When I'm walking around campus sometimes I get really distracted by our trees. They are pretty fantastic-looking and fairly old and sometimes they are just so interesting to me. Sometimes, however, this gets me into trouble. Sometimes I walk right by someone I know and then I figure that they think I'm ignoring them but really I'm just trying to figure out what a particular tree reminds me of - whether it's another tree or a face or an object...whatever it is, it's way more interesting than saying hello to an acquaintance of mine. But then I feel rude if they say hi to me and I have to stop looking at the trees.

There is one tree in particular that I noticed yesterday that I had never really seen before - sure, it was always there, but I didn't notice it until I started looking at the trees on the way home from...well, I don't remember where I was going or coming, I just know that this was one really great tree. It reminded me of people who are always kind of there in my life - but when I really take a good look at them, they suddenly take on a new and exciting appearance. It's like getting a new friend! I guess it is getting a new friend. But back to the trees, I tend to do this with clouds too, though of course clouds change all the time and it's way more exciting to look at trees for this reason: you can always come back to them.

A really tragic thing happened when Irene came through - there was a lot of power lost, but we also lost one of the best trees on campus. While power comes back, this tree isn't going to ever be seen or enjoyed again. I'm talking about the big tree behind (in front of?) Jamestown North. It was perfect for picnicking and provided some great cover to me every time I walked home from campus escort (about a 1 minute walk, but still). It was like a friend that I never took the time to appreciate - never once did I just stare at it and seal its image in my memory. I guess friends are more important than trees, but there's something really great about a tree in that you assume it will always be there for you, and that when it grows it only becomes more useful and can provide you with more shelter, space for contemplation and perspective. I like to think about who planted trees and who watched them grow and who hit them with frisbees and who counted their branches. Especially on this campus, with old buildings, it can be cool to see something that is living and has changed over the years, adapting to new construction and new students every year: a testament to constancy and growth.

Anyway, now every time I pass the really cool tree I'll be happy, but I'm kind of sad that I can't have that special kind of affection for every tree on campus, let alone every person. God has a pretty big job if my feelings toward this one tree (that I just noticed) are any small indication of how he feels toward all of his creation.