The tree that didn’t understand

Sep 20

Written By

DEDICATED TO ELIZABETH D. MCMILLAN
(APRIL 6, 1911 - OCTOBER 8, 1992)

AND TO HER OTHER CHILDREN: TONEY, BETSY, JILL, MARIETTA, KEVIN AND CARTER; HER ADOPTED DAUGHTERS; KENNY BURTON, KATHY ULRICH AND MARY WHIPPLE, ESPECIALLY MARY ELIZABETH WHIPPLE WHO SHARED HER NAME; AND EMILY WHIPPLE WHO CAME TO SEE HER TWO DAYS BEFORE HER DEATH.

By David W. McMillan

ONCE UPON A TIME IN A LAND WHERE PEOPLE NEVER WALKED, LIVED A FAMILY OF TREES. THIS FAMILY WAS A FOREST. LIKE ALL SPIRITUAL FAMILIES, THEY WORSHIPPED GOD. TO THE TREES, GOD HAD THREE PARTS: THE EARTH, IN WHOM THEY LIVED AND WORKED AND HAD THEIR BEING; THE LIGHT THAT SHINED ON THEM AND MADE THEIR LEAVES GREEN; THE WIND, IT BECAME THE LANGUAGE THEY USED TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER. IT RUSTLED THEIR LEAVES, MAKING NOISE THE TREES USED FOR WORDS. IT BLEW THEIR BRANCHES, CREATING POSES THAT SHOWED THEIR FEELINGS FOR ONE ANOTHER.

THE TREES SPENT THEIR DAYS GROWING DEEP ROOTS INTO THE GROUND AND STANDING TALL. THEIR BRANCHES PROVIDED HOMES FOR BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS, THEIR ROOTS, HOMES TO CHIPMUNKS AND RABBITS, THEIR LIMBS, NUTS AND FRUIT FOR THE ANIMALS. THEY LOVED THEIR ROLE OF PROVIDING SHELTER AND FOOD FOR THE FOREST COMMUNITY.

ONE SPRING DAY THE FOREST BLOOMED WITH NEW LIFE. THE DOGWOOD FLOWERS LACED THE FOREST LIKE POPCORN STRINGS ON CHRISTMAS TREES. THE FOREST'S SPRING LEAVES PROVIDED SOFT AND TENDER GREEN COLORS IN THE TREE TOPS. ON THE FOREST FLOOR WERE SPRINKLES OF YELLOW DAFFODILS RISING OUT OF THE BROWN MAT OF PINE STRAW AND LEAVES.

ON THIS DAY, THE WIND BLEW THE PINE POLLEN THROUGH THE FOREST LIKE A SOFT GOLD MIST. ONE OF THE SPECKS OF GOLD POLLEN FROM AN ADULT PINE TREE FOUND ITS WAY TO THE CONE OF ANOTHER PINE TREE. THE PINE TREE RECEIVED THE POLLEN AND WITH IT MADE A SEED.

THE MOTHER PINE TREE HELD THE NEW PINE SEED TIGHTLY IN HER PINE CONE FOR A LONG TIME. SHE WAS WAITING FOR JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT TO LET THE SEED GO.

SHE WAITED AND WAITED, UNTIL ONE DAY AFTER A RAIN, SHE SAW A PLACE WHERE THE LIGHT FELL JUST RIGHT ON A SPOT ON THE FOREST FLOOR. THERE, ON THIS SAME SPOT, THE TALLEST PINE TREE IN THE FOREST ONCE GREW.

IT BECAME OLD AND FELL FROM THE SAWS OF THE PINE BEETLE. NOW THAT THE GIANT OLD TREE WAS GONE, THERE WAS PLENTY OF LIGHT FOR NEW LIFE. THE MOTHER PINE LET GO OF HER LITTLE SEED. IT TWIRLED ITS WAY TO THAT SPOT. IT WAS A PERFECT PLACE FOR A PINE TREE TO GROW. HERE THE SEED FEEL ON SOFT DAMP EARTH.

AS THE SEED HIT THE GROUND, IT TWISTED ITS BOTTOM INTO THE DIRT. IT USED THE EARTH'S MOISTURE AND LIGHT THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE SKY TO BEGIN TO GROW. IT PUT OUT ROOTS AND THEN A SMALL STEM WITH SMALL PINE NEEDLES. IT WAS A BABY TREE. IT HAD NO BRANCHES TO WAVE. ITS NEEDLES WERE TOO SHORT TO RUSTLE.

SO ITS PARENTS HAD TO LOOK OUT AFTER THEIR INFANT. WHEN IT NEEDED MORE WATER, ITS MOTHER AND FATHER WOULD CATCH THE RAINDROPS WITH THEIR NEEDLES AND HOLD THE WATER. THEN, ONE DROP AT A TIME, THEY WOULD DRIP THE WATER FROM THEIR NEEDLES ON THEIR CHILD AS THE BABY TREE NEEDED IT. ON CLOUDY DAYS WHEN LIGHT WAS SPARSE, THEY WOULD LEAN BACK, MAKING ROOM FOR MORE LIGHT TO WARM THEIR CHILD AND HELP THE YOUNG TREE GROW. THE BABY TREE DID GROW AND IT BECAME A PROUD NEW ADDITION TO THE FOREST COMMUNITY.

THE BABY TREE HAD MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE AND HE WOULD ASK HIS PARENTS. "HOW DO YOU KNOW GOD EXISTS?" HE ASKED HIS MOTHER ONE DAY.

"I JUST DO," SHE REPLIED.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," THE YOUNG TREE SAID. "WHY DID GOD MAKE SQUIRRELS?"

THE YOUNG TREE ASKED HIS FATHER.

"I DON'T KNOW," HIS FATHER SAID.

"WHY DON'T YOU KNOW?" THE YOUNG TREE ASKED.

HIS FATHER TEASINGLY ANSWERED HIM, "BECAUSE I HAVE WOOD IN MY TRUNK." "WHY, MOTHER, DID GOD MAKE SQUIRRELS?"

"TO SCRATCH AND SHAKE OUR LIMBS," SHE SAID.

"WHY DID GOD MAKE SQUIRRELS FOR THAT?" HE ASKED.

"BECAUSE GOD LOVES US," SHE ANSWERED.

"WHY DOES GOD LOVE US?" HE ASKED.

"I DON'T KNOW," SHE REPLIED.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," THE YOUNG TREE SAID. "WHY DID GOD MAKE WORMS?"

"TO HELP OLD TREES RETURN TO THE EARTH WHEN THEY DIE."

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," HE SAID. "WHY DID GOD MAKE MOSQUITOS?"

"I DON'T KNOW," THE MOTHER TREE REPLIED, EXASPERATED WITH ALL THESE QUESTIONS. "PERHAPS GOD MADE A MISTAKE WITH MOSQUITOS."

THE YOUNG TREES IN THE FOREST WOULD PLAY GAMES. THERE WERE SEVERAL OF THEM. ONE WAS `BAT THE FALLING LEAF IN THE WIND' GAME. ANOTHER GAME WAS `TEASE THE SQUIRRELS.' IN THAT GAME ONE TREE WOULD SHAKE THE SQUIRREL OFF ITS BRANCHES AND OTHER TREES WOULD SEE WHO COULD CATCH THE SQUIRREL BEFORE IT HIT THE GROUND.

THE BIGGER TREES WERE BUSY TENDING TO THE YOUNG TREES AND GROWING PLACES FOR THE ANIMALS. THE BIG OLDER TREES WOULD DROP A BRANCH TO MAKE A HOLE IN THEIR TRUNK FOR OWL FAMILIES TO NEST.

THE TALLEST TREES WOULD DROP THEIR TOP LEAVES AND MAKE ROOSTING PLACES FOR EAGLES. ONCE A WEEK ON SUNDAY THE TREES WOULD LEAN TOGETHER TO FORM A SANCTUARY AND THEY WOULD LISTEN FOR THE WORD OF GOD.

GOD DID NOT SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY. THEY NEVER KNEW HOW GOD WOULD COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. THEY ONLY KNEW THAT IF THEY CAME TOGETHER TO LISTEN, THAT GOD WOULD BECOME KNOWN TO THEM. SOMETIMES IT WAS FROM THE HONKS OF DUCKS MIGRATING HIGH OVER-HEAD. SOMETIMES IT WAS FROM THE ECHO OF THUNDER IN THE HILLS. SOMETIMES IT WAS FROM THE FLYING COLORS OF THE SONGBIRDS FLITTING THROUGH THEIR BRANCHES.

BUT HOWEVER IT WAS THAT GOD SPOKE TO HIS TREE FAMILY, IT WAS ALWAYS A SURPRISE. AT THE END OF EVERY SERVICE THEY WOULD SING THE SAME HYMN TO PRAISE GOD.

"IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE,

GOD OF THE SPARROW, GOD OF THE WHALE

WE BLOSSOM AND FLOURISH

RICH WITH NEW LIFE

THEN WITHER AND PERISH,

BUT NAUGHT CHANGES THEE.

GOD OF EARTHQUAKE, GOD OF STORM

GOD OF RAINBOWS, GOD OF MOONLIGHT.

YOU MAKE PAIN, GRIEF AND SORROW

NURTURE NEW LIFE.

ALL FEAR AND SHAME ARE

REDEEMED BY GOD'S LOVE.

AMEN."

AFTER CHURCH ONE SUNDAY, THE YOUNG TREE ASKED HIS MOTHER ABOUT CHURCH. HE KNEW BETTER TO ASK HIS FATHER BECAUSE HIS FATHER WOULD ALWAYS SAY, "I DON'T KNOW CAUSE I HAVE WOOD IN MY TRUNK."

SO HE ASKED HIS MOTHER, "MOTHER, WHY DO WE GO TO CHURCH EACH SUNDAY?"

"TO WORSHIP GOD," SHE REPLIED.

"WHY DOES GOD NEED WORSHIPPING?" HE ASKED.

"GOD DOESN'T NEED WORSHIP. WE NEED TO WORSHIP."

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," SAID THE YOUNG TREE. T

HE YOUNG TREE GREW TALL AND BIG, STANDING HIGH WITH ITS PARENTS. LIFE IN THE FOREST SEEMED WONDERFUL TO THE TREE UNTIL ONE DAY A STORM CAME. LIGHTNING JUMPED OUT OF THE SKY AND STRUCK HIS FATHER. WIND FOLLOWED THE LIGHTENING AND SHOVED HIS FATHER TO THE GROUND. ROOTLESS AND BURNED, HIS FATHER WAS DEAD.

THE YOUNG TREE FELT EXPOSED AND FRIGHTENED AT HIS EASTERN FLANK WHERE HIS FATHER HAD STOOD. HE LOOKED WEST TO HIS MOTHER. SHE WAS STILL THERE. SHE WAS SINGING THE LAST OF THE HYMN SUNG EACH SUNDAY.

"YOU MAKE PAIN, GRIEF AND SORROW NURTURE NEW LIFE, ALL FEAR AND SHAME ARE REDEEMED BY GOD'S LOVE."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN MOTHER?" THE YOUNG TREE ASKED.

"YOUR PROTECTOR AND CHAMPION PINE TREE IS DEAD. HOW CAN YOU SING? WHY DIDN'T GOD SAVE MY FATHER?"

"GOD DID," SHE SAID.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," THE YOUNG TREE SAID.

THE YOUNG TREE GREW OLDER AND BECAME ONE OF THE STRONGEST TREES OF THE FOREST, STRONG ENOUGH TO LOSE A LIMB IN THE WIND AND LET BIRDS BUILD A NEST IN THE KNOT HOLE THE LIMB LEFT BEHIND. HE PLAYED HIS ROLE AS A PROTECTOR AND PROVIDER FOR THE FOREST AND ENJOYED BEING CONSIDERED A TREE AMONG TREES.

HE MISSED HIS FATHER, BUT HE LOVED HIS MOTHER AND SHE REMAINED THERE FOR HIM. ONE DAY, THE SQUIRRELS THAT NESTED IN HIS MOTHER'S BRANCHES BEGAN TO SCOOT ABOUT AS IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THEM SAYING, "SHE WILL FALL ANY MINUTE. WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE." THE EAGLES IN THE NEST IN HIS MOTHER'S TREE TOP SWIRLED ABOUT THE NEST ABOVE. HE HEARD THEM SAYING, "IT WON'T BE LONG. WE HAVE TO FIND A NEW HOME."

THE FAMILY OF SKUNKS AT THE BASE OF HER TRUNK WERE LOPING AWAY FROM HIS MOTHER AS FAST AS THEY COULD. HE HEARD THEM SAYING, "THE BEETLES ARE SAWING AT THE CORE." "WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?" THE TREE ASKED HIS MOTHER. "I HAVE PINE BEETLES," SHE SAID. "CAN'T YOU HEAR THEM SAWING AWAY INSIDE MY TRUNK. SOON I WILL BE TOO WEAK TO STAND. I WILL FALL OVER, NOT LIKE YOUR FATHER, TORN FROM HIS ROOTS, BUT ALREADY ROTTING - CHANGING FROM TREE TO EARTH. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN STAND."

"MOTHER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND," THE TREE CRIED, "HOW CAN YOU FALL AND LEAVE ME? IF YOU GO, LIFE WILL SHRINK OUT OF THE WORLD. WHAT WILL WE DO WITHOUT YOU STANDING TALL. YOU WERE THE ONLY TREE WILLING TO SHELTER THE SKUNK FAMILY. THE EAGLES FELT SECURE IN YOUR TALL BRANCHES. WHERE WILL THEY GO? YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BEAUTIFUL TO ME. NO ONE CAN RUSTLE THEIR NEEDLES IN LAUGHTER LIKE YOU. NO ONE CAN USE THEIR LIMBS IN THE WIND TO TELL A STORY LIKE YOU. AND MOTHER, NO ONE CAN LOVE ME LIKE YOU. I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH YET FOR YOU TO GO."

"YES YOU ARE SON," SHE SAID. "YOU'VE BEEN STRONG ENOUGH FOR A LONG TIME."

"HOW COULD GOD EXIST AND LET YOU DIE? THE EARTH CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR SPIRIT. MOTHER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND," HE SAID.

"THE EARTH WON'T LIVE WITHOUT MY SPIRIT," SHE SAID. "AND MY SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND BE WITH YOU. WHEN I FALL I WILL MAKE WAY FOR NEW TREES TO GROW HERE. NEW LIGHT WILL FALL ON THE GROUND. THERE WILL BE MORE ROOM FOR YOU TO GROW AND SPREAD AND BECOME THE GREAT TREE GOD MEANT YOU TO BE. THE BEETLES WILL SAW ME UP INTO DUST. THE WORMS WILL TAKE MY DUST INTO THE EARTH AND THE WHOLE FOREST WILL GET A PART OF ME AS I REJOIN GOD THE EARTH, GOD THE LIGHT AND GOD THE WIND."

SUDDENLY THE WIND BLEW VERY HARD. THE OLD MOTHER PINE TREE CRASHED TO THE GROUND. HER TRUNK HIT THE GROUND, BOUNCED AND BROKE INTO PIECES. THREE LARGE PIECES OF HER TRUNK FELL SO THAT THEY SURROUNDED HER SON ON THREE SIDES. HE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO DO EXCEPT SING THE HYMN THEY SANG EVERY SUNDAY, THE HYMN HIS MOTHER SANG WHEN HIS FATHER DIED.