Wisdom of Trees Series: Like a Tree…

wisdom of trees series

Have you ever wondered why it is that trees live such incredibly long and resilient lives? Why they don’t wither and perish when it is dry or cold? How they survive even through the harshest conditions? Gracious and strong, you can almost sense their aura of wisdom as you approach them from afar.

Trees have always fascinated humans. After all, they can surpass humans exceedingly in their potential lifespan. Namely olive trees are among the longest-living creatures on Earth, reaching up to several thousand years of age. And the oldest tree in the world, a spruce in Sweden, is an astounding 9550 years old!

In recent years, science has uncovered some of the secrets of the long life of trees. Meanwhile, I’m only at the beginning of my journey where I’m learning about these remarkable, enduring creatures.

It would be my utmost joy to have you join me on this exciting journey towards the wisdom of trees!

Trees thrive by streams of water. Photo by Nathan Anderson

… Planted by Streams of Water

Once you have been enlightened to it, it’s fairly obvious. But if you’ve never given it a second thought, you wouldn’t even notice this significant difference between trees and other plants.

One key difference is their roots. If you compared the depth of the root of a tree with that of an annual* plant, you’d notice that trees generally root much deeper. The roots of a tree can reach several metres of depth, while the roots of most annual plants are only several centimetres long. In fact, the deepest root on the world ever measured was a compelling 120 metres deep! It was the root of a fig tree in South Africa, which enabled the fig to thrive even in a very dry area.

A fig tree sprouting between concrete. Photo by Naomi Bosch

Rooted

Why deep roots? Well, the purpose of roots is to ensure the tree’s stability and supply it with water and nutrients from the soil. Plants can only take in their necessary nutrients when they are dissolved in water. And water, of course, is essential to each and any life process of plants. Not without reason, water is referred to as the source of life.

The deeper the roots, the higher the chances that the tree will find water & nutrients underground.

Obviously, this is especially important for trees living in harsh, dry conditions! Trees are real survival artist… They wisely stretch out their roots to the place where water is found, even when everything around is dry and barren. The “secret” they have found is that water is actually always there. You just have to dig deep enough to get there.

Yes, right where you are sitting and reading now, there is water! It might be several metres below you, but it is there! This is called groundwater, a reservoir of water that can be found everywhere beneath the Earth’s surface. Sometimes, it’s deeper, sometimes, it’s shallower. Even though ground water levels might drop in cases of extreme drought or when excessively used by people, groundwater is always there. It is there, ready to provide plants, animals and humans alike with fresh drinking water. After all, groundwater has passed through the purifying natural filter of soil.

Wise trees

And trees, in their wisdom, have understood this. They don’t rely strictly on rain or snow for water. They’ve secured themselves an ever-flowing fountain of fresh water below. It is by doing this that they can thrive, no matter their circumstances. They flourish and bear fruit, year after year, regenerating everything around them. This is because trees, or forests, act as a kind of water pump, getting up the water from below, and giving it back to the atmosphere through transpiration. The cycle is closed when rain falls back on the Earth, returning to the groundwater – and trees – once again. Without trees, our planet would be a desolate, dry place, since water wouldn’t circle to and from the atmosphere anymore.

We live on a lush planet because plants, and trees particularly, have developed such an ingenious way of reaching the essence of life for all!

Because trees have stretched their roots for the groundwater.

Trees are the waterpump of our planet! Photo by David Vig

Stretching your roots for the groundwater

One thing that I was unaware of until university is that rivers, creeks and lakes are, in fact, places where groundwater emerges onto the surface of the Earth. This implies that near rivers etc., groundwater levels are usually particularly high. Exactly that is the reason why river valleys are often especially fertile: they have a steady water supply from below and aren’t as dependent on frequent rainfalls.

As I was pondering on these fascinating discoveries about trees and groundwater, I came upon the verses of a Jewish prophet’s book. They deeply resonated with my heart:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” **

Come and lean on this tree planted by streams of water.

Come and learn from it with me.

Come and soak in its wisdom.

Ever growing, ever thriving… trees are not dependent on immediate precipitation.
Photo by Fabrice Villard

Trees don’t let themselves be distracted from the short-lived benefits of shallow roots and surface water. Yes, growing long roots takes time and energy. Still, they put in deep roots and reach to the depths of the soil, to the groundwater. They aren’t dependent on immediate rainfall. They want nothing but the purest water from below.

People are like trees

Ancient Middle Eastern literature has a rich symbology associated with trees. In the same way, the Bible often compares wise people to trees. Wise people have learned not to depend on the ephemeral “security” of their surroundings. Indeed, they have learned to stretch out their roots for something deeper and longer lasting. They have realized that rains will come and go, but that the groundwater remains. The rain could be security found in people, wealth, possessions, self-esteem… Not bad things in themselves! But these all come and go, soaking the soil only quickly and shallowly. If we are to thrive, to really thrive, we would need to find something which doesn’t fade away after a short downpour of joy. A life-giving substance that brings us real joy and deep meaning. One that doesn’t evaporate when the sun burns down on us.

A spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Is it this kind of “water” that Jesus talked about in his conversation with the woman at the well? ***

Everlasting… or not?

I believe we’ve all experienced this feeling where we think we’re at the top of it. We’re happy and over the moon, we’ve made it. The rain feels good and refreshing, and satisfies our thirst for a while. But reality comes crushing in all too soon – with the first fight in a fresh relationship, with the loss of a dear person, with a threatening situation, with the loss of control, with our own failure and anxieties. Whenever we think we’ve finally found the recipe for eternal happiness, we quickly become disappointed. Whether it’s a short downpour of rain or a constant drizzle, we buy into the lie that this shallow rain will make us truly happy. We try to catch whatever dirty water we can, all the while living in the illusion that this will be enough for our thirsty souls.

But the despair and scars of our lives run so much deeper. They need much more than a shower of rain. They need the ever present, ever purifying groundwater below.

The groundwater

I like to think of the groundwater as the presence of God. He’s always there, generously pouring out his love to us. Even though I might not always be aware of it, feel or taste it, it’s there, right at my disposition!

All we have to do is stretch out our roots, just like the wise trees do. To reconnect with the essence of life and its cleansing love.

Then, our soul will find deep satisfaction and forgiveness that doesn’t run dry.

What if this was possible? What if such abundant, refreshing life from within could be real in our lives? Not being dependent upon the opinions or appreciation of others, but having an intrinsic security found within us. And from this spring of fresh water inside of us, refreshing everything around us. Replenishing other people’s lives, replenishing the environment. Because we are eternally loved by a Divine Lover.

This is what I envision as plentiful lands within – well-watered lives “whose leaves are always green… Who have no worries in a year of drought and never fail to bear fruit.”

Fruitful & abundant! Photo by Tyler Shaw

How to stretch your roots

But how do we stretch our roots for the groundwater? How do we find eternal peace & joy within? Could the first, careful step be to believe that the groundwater is there in the first place? To acknowledge its kind and soothing presence?

Trying comes at no cost.

“All of you who are thirsty, come to the water! Whoever has no money, come, buy food and eat! Without money, at no cost, buy wine and milk! Why spend money for what isn’t food, and your earnings for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest of feasts.“****