God Have Mercy, I Hope It’s Trees (Part 2)
In the previous blog post, we talked a little about trees before going on to some other things that we might replace them with. Hopefully, in reading it, you realized that my tone was sarcastic and that the point was that we can’t really replace trees. We need trees. They are an essential element of the Biblical image of paradise. Unfortunately, in talking so much about other things that cannot replace them in paradise, I neglected to talk enough about trees, but I want to be clear here, I really like trees.
Maybe my interest in trees originated in my love for the Lord of the Rings when I was a kid. In those stories, the good guys love and protect trees, appreciating them not just for what they provide for us, but loving and respecting them for their beauty and inherent worth. Naturally, there is a lot of beauty to trees for those who learn to appreciate them, some of which goes unnoticed when we lose the trees for the forest. Each individual organism is precious and worthy of at least some respect. This isn’t to say that we don’t need to remove trees from time to time. No one wants a root growing into their basement and destabilizing the foundation of their house, and sometimes we simply need wood for any of the various purposes for which we employ it. However, we can still look at trees with respect for their age, durability, tenacity, and natural beauty.
Of course, trees also do have value that goes beyond themselves. Trees do a lot for an ecosystem and for humans. Trees provide places for birds to nest and shade and shelter for animals on the ground. Even trees that don’t provide fruit that we eat, often provide seeds and nuts that are popular among the animals in an area. Trees help prevent water runoff with their broad branching root systems. They stabilize the soil and reduce the erosion effects of wind. They can even help clean the air, filtering some pollutants and pulling out excess carbon dioxide.Trees are natural guardians of the land, providing care for both the biotic and abiotic elements of the ecosystem.
Furthermore, trees are very helpful to people. They can shade our houses in the summer and provide wind breaks in the winter to help offset energy costs. They can improve the aesthetics of our property, but perhaps most importantly, trees can provide food in the form of fruits. For the sake of yourself, future generations, and a multitude of other plants, animals, and environmental conditions, plant a tree.
But if we consider the power of trees to provide food through fresh fruit, there is much more we can do. Many cities are plagued by food insecurity. Some people live in “food deserts” where they are mostly stuck with processed convenience store food. They lack access to high quality fresh produce. Even with produce near at hand, some people may struggle with buying fresh food and storing it well. People experiencing homelessness or those with stable shelter who are still living below the poverty line may simply not have access. However, trees can be planted throughout cities to help with that.
Of course, there are problems associated with planting fruit trees. Some of them require a lot of extra water, so caring for them may be difficult. However, if they can be nourished with community help through difficult years, they can make up for it in particularly wet years. Some people may argue that there would be a problem with fallen fruit that just rots on the ground. Fortunately, community organizations can also help with this. Picking up fallen fruit can be the aim of students looking for community service hours for various school groups. Many farm animals can enjoy fallen fruit even when humans wouldn’t touch it, so one could imagine farm kids taking a few hours to come pick up fruit to feed their animals. If nothing else, fallen fruit provides ample resources for composters and people seeking seeds to plant their own trees. Generally speaking, most of the flaws of planting fruit trees in cities to offset the damage of food scarcity, can be resolved through community organizing. The presence of trees can feed a community while also bringing it together by giving it work to do.
I doubt that any one reading this would openly argue that we ought not be concerned with the wellbeing of the poor and homeless. However, it is also true that some part of each of us is selfish. We are more concerned with our own well being and prosperity than we are with the well being of others around us. While I didn’t address it in the concerns above, I think it is still something that needs a response. Why should we plant fruit trees for people who aren’t contributing to us? Why should we spend our resources to care for the poor?
Of course, there are plenty of reasons within Christianity to care for the poor. There are plenty of arguments from every major religion as well as from secular philosophy. But going back to the passage in Revelation, isn’t this an image of paradise? When you think about God’s new world, heaven and earth renewed, do you imagine selfishness persisting, or do you imagine everyone caring for each other, regardless of what anyone can contribute? The river of paradise is surrounded by fruit bearing trees for all the people of God, not food locked behind a paywall. Paradise isn’t stingy. It isn’t insecure about resources. God provides plentifully. Trees are something to be shared and are accessible to everyone.
We can’t make heaven on earth, we can’t vote in paradise, but we can fight for a future God is advancing. We can join in God’s mission. When considering how to act in society as Christians, one of the most important things we should be considering is where God is leading. What does the kingdom of heaven look like? God isn’t making office buildings, military bases, or government institutions in paradise. God is telling us about trees, something for all to enjoy regardless of their resources or contribution, something that speaks to trust and hope in the future. So, if you want to help yourself, others, and plants and animals around you, but you also want to show a sign that you trust and hope for the future God is advancing, plant a tree. I’m not entirely sure what our future will hold, how cities will address food shortages and weakened communities, but I hope that at least part of the solution involves trees.
