In the last blog, I described growing up in the country. I have fond memories of climbing and playing games under the many trees that surrounded our property. Sometimes the neighbors’ yards also held irresistible trees. And the acres of forests that surrounded us provided endless days of adventure.
Across the field and through the privet hedge, our neighbor’s trees offered forbidden delights. Their yard held a plum tree, a crabapple, and several apple trees. But the prize was the giant cherry tree. Unlike the other trees, we couldn’t approach this one from the hidden recesses of the privet hedge as it stood at the top of the driveway by their front door. But since they were one of the few neighbors who had a paved driveway, we could roar down the drive on our bikes and up to the top where it circled the cherry tree. Sometimes the owners would invite us to pick the cherries. But more often, we snitched the fruit off the first branch we could find and then sped back down their driveway, thinking no one had noticed. Maybe they didn’t?
Our woods stretched for acres and merged happily into other neighbors’ properties, so there was an endless supply of adventures amidst the trees. I could spend four to five hours playing in the forest as long as I returned for dinner. One of the largest trees held a treehouse that was occupied mostly by the boys in the neighborhood. But the girls used it occasionally just to tease the boys. We had our own secret lair underneath some bushes, close to the ground where we took our books, dolls and games and enjoyed the day hidden from view.
A line of stately oaks ran along one section of our property. Someone planted these trees a long time ago, as they were at least 100 years old. Alongside these oaks was an open field where my father planted fir trees of many kinds, so we had our own tree farm. On Christmas eve, we would trudge through the snow and cold to find our tree. Often my dad would suggest one that needed to be weeded out to help another tree grow. But we never gave in to that wish. We wanted as big a tree as possible and often had to cut it down to size once we’d brought it into the barn. My dad gave each of us a chance with the saw we used to cut it down. That was my first introduction to pine sap.
I loved this pine forest and played there in every season. Crawling under the limbs of some of the pine trees, I’d snuggle down on the ground, pretending I was a deer. There, out of the wind, I’d watch and listen to the birds in the trees, the mice and rabbits in the field, and enjoy the sound of the wind whispering through the pine boughs. Tiring of that, I’d head to the top of the hill where a maple tree stood. It was perfect for climbing as the branches were low enough to grab onto and pull myself up. From there, I climbed to the very top of the tree. This was probably not the best idea, as even with my slight frame, the tree swayed back and forth. But the view was worth the danger. I could see the entire pine forest, the house, barn, and neighboring homes from up there. One day, I even brought my camera and took a photo as proof. I kept that photo for years and can still see it in my mind’s eye.
The Bible is full of stories about trees and the part they play in history. Think of the cedars of Lebanon, the musical instruments David played, the fig tree Jesus cursed, and the tree that was used to crucify Christ. Throughout history, we’ve built homes and palaces using trees. We’ve built trading ships and instruments of war and peace with their wood. Aaron’s rod budded and was kept in the Ark of the Covenant. Gentiles are spoken of as wild olive branches grafted into the cultivated olive tree. This part of God’s creation is an essential part of our lives.
Most of my adventures growing up involved trees. Perhaps that is why I still love to walk deep into a pine forest or follow a trail that leads through old growth oaks. It stirs the contentment and peace I felt as a child playing in the forest. It makes me wonder what the trees were like in the Garden of Eden. Or how about the Tree of Life? What will that tree look like growing along the banks of the river that flows from the throne of God? Someday we will know.
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12 NIV
