What I Learned from a Tree
By Maria Solis, St. Mary Lanesville, Age 16


Previously, when I thought of a tree I thought of a trunk, some branches, and some leaves reaching up towards the sky. However, on our nature hike my simplistic idea of a tree was changed. Along the creek there was a tree that had been blown over and therefore, all its roots had been exposed. Upon seeing this I was amazed at how gigantic and intricately complex the root system was. There were roots that were as wide as CDs, and roots that were thinner than pieces of strings. And yet they were all connected and woven together in one enormous mass. The vast complexity of the entire root system reminded me of how God works. He is so unpredictable, so intricate, so unfathomable and yet so effective in our lives.
As I examined the roots further I noticed that there were several rocks of different shapes and sizes trapped in the tangle. I also noticed many clumps of dirt that clung tightly to the roots.
This sight reminded me of events in our lives. The rocks are like times of sin when we harden our hearts and turn away from God. But the clumps of dirt are like the times when we open our hearts to the will of God and allow Him to penetrate our lives. Just as the nutrients in the clumps of dirt had developed and strengthened the tree, when we open our hearts to the will of God, our gifts, talents, and our very beings develop and strengthen the kingdom of God.
Another thing I noticed was that the rocks did not hinder the roots growth. They certainly changed the course of the roots as our sins change the course of our lives. However, the roots simply accommodated for the stones and continued to works towards softer ground, just as God accommodates for our sins and continues to work throughout our lives.