Friday, February 25, 2011

tree height

I've noticed that trees tend to grow to similar heights near each other.  But, interestingly, the trees on one side of a road may grow higher than the other side of the road, especially if there is a slope to the grade.  I wondered what determined how high a tree can grow.  The answer is: nobody knows.  There are several theories about nutrition, and plant maturity and the challenges of moving water higher to feed the tree against the pull of gravity.  But who told the trees on one side of the road to grow to one height and on the other side to grow to a different height? (By the way, do you know that there are redwoods in California that are taller than football fields are long?)  I like the fact that we don't have all the answers.  That tells me that the wonders of life happen whether or not we, as people, understand why.  I think that sometimes we think we have more control over the planet than we actually do.  It is great to wonder why things happen and it is great to wonder how things happen...but perhaps it is greatest just to be in wonder "that they happen"!
 
Psalm 104:16 The trees of the Lord are well cared for—
      the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
 
blessings, 
Rob Smith

No comments:

Post a Comment