Has it ever crossed your mind how similar people are to trees? The tree needs to be nurtured as a sapling. It depends on its environment to grow in strength. As it blooms into its prime, there are newer branches, leaves & flowers. Then come the fruits & the tree is happy & content. In the meanwhile it’s doing it’s job too. Helping to attract rains, bring down pollution & helping the fauna to thrive under its folds.
A few unfortunate ones get impugned in a very subtle way. They don’t even realize that they have been afflicted by termite’s that’s gnawing away at their very existence. By the time the tree realizes it’s stricken, the damage is intense. But all’s not lost. The giant ant-eater (family & friends) is around with huge claws & a long sticky tongue. It claws away at the bark & slowly but skillfully devours the silent killers & helps the unfortunate tree a chance to live again.
Just as there are individuals with different personality traits so are trees. The magnificent Oak tree is an epitome of strength & magnitude. A refuge to the existing fauna & insect life, this tree spells dependability. It has deep roots & a strong foundation. But as this tree grows older...it develops a tiered root system with feeder & sinker roots that permeate at different layers of the soil. On occasions these feeder n sinker roots are damaged due to the unfortunate forces of nature. The rock hard tree that the world thinks is majestic starts withering away. Everyone around looks at the grand tree & envy’s its strength but in reality, its lastingness is numbered.
Then there is the Semul tree. Tall, sparse with thorns adorning every aspect of it’s body. One is repulsed with the abominable & bristling thorns but if one looks closely, along with giving refuge to a number of dwindling species, it’s rich in medicinal properties & in the labyrinth of its innards, stores a treasure of cures for the weak. It’s like a teacher that’s austere but intrinsic to learn the ropes of life.
The palm tree…this sure reminds me of all mothers. Every part of this tree is a precious storehouse. It stands tall & yet flexible, bending to the whims of the breeze. But hey! Just because it accommodates the velocity of the wind does not spell its weakness.
Lastly… the omnipresent parasites! The beef steak fungi & the Mistletoe are two harmless looking individuals on the surface. But one good hold of the trees primary system & slowly it claws away at the trees nutrients with invisible tentacles. It deceives the tree into thinking that it’s the master & merely giving refuge to the infirm. In reality it gnaws away stealthily & deceivingly until its powerful enough to reign in the host tree’s very growth.
It’s all a matter of how we look at life. No ones indefectible & we do need others to help us in our life’s journey. The harmony lies in the crescendo of good karmic forces, humility & the ability to live unpretentious lives. We do need the oak to draw strength from it, the semul to indoctrinate life’s lessons, the palm to soak in the profound predilection to warmth & emotional regard & the parasites that compel us to walk the rugged terrain & make us wise. Each one of these trees is important in our personal growth to becoming individuals with substance!
No comments:
Post a Comment