3 Kinds of Trees and People, Part 3 of 3

I’ll talk about the trees here, and you can figure out the people side of this on your own. Read Part 1 and Part Deux if you missed them.

The third kind of tree/people: Can you look at the picture and figure it out? Click here to see the bigger picture, pun intended. Notice anything unusual about the Skinny Spruce on the left? It’s not real. It’s a cell tower disguised as a tree. It’s artificial. It doesn’t grow. It’s not planted. It doesn’t change shape. It’s just faking it while the other trees—evergreens and deciduous—around it are living life in full color and in all seasons. It’s metal and plastic and painted. It’s just pretending to be a part of this forest community.  

It is an <a href=" " title="Know what the etymology of the word hypocrite is? It’s the Greek word for actor."><font color=“006633”>actor</font></a> in a forest full of reality.

The hard part for the other trees is that when their leaves are falling or branches are pruned, they might look at Skinny Spruce and lament that they don’t look as good in and out of season. But here’s the thing. . . every tree in this tiny forest is living the true tree life—in all its imperfections. The real trees produce fruit and seeds that feed the forest and create new trees. 

New trees learning from old trees. In and out of season. Artificial trees like Skinny Spruce don’t have that joy.

I am reminded of Emerson’s quote: “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” I first heard that line in The Acorn Song by  Allen Levi, a dear friend and the incredible songwriter.