Breath of Life

This is going to start strangely (well to some, not all).

I'll know who the tree huggers are by the end of this are.

Trees are beautiful, oxygen giving, cleansing, protection and shelter.

Sometimes for the weary, or the parched, many species of animals, insects and us, humans.

I remember reading the “Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein (one of my favorites) and first making that connection. The trees are givers.

In due season, the trees produce flowers, fruits and oxygen.

The trees deep roots and arching branches take nourishment from the soil, energy from the sun, and are watered by the atmosphere.

The growth of deep, intricate roots has always fascinated me as well. We cannot see the beauty above ground, but that imagery reminds me of the lungs.

An imperative organ structure within- the lungs; which in my opinion are underrated. Little thought in my day to day goes to whether or not I am breathing and breathing well. The lungs hug over the heart and each inhalation and exhalation powers the entire body with the essence of life.

The breath of life is found in this symbolism.

The trees producing fresh air.

The roots extracting all the goodness of the soil and much needed water.

A similar ecosystem exists within us!

I believe we would not have the breath of life if it were not for the Creator. The giver of life.

We are molded, and slowly grow like a tree but the breath of life did not come from within us alone. A mothers conception and growth of her baby is only possible because of the breath of life. It was before she was, and before her baby.

Each of us breaths in the breath of life, given by the trees.

The give so much more than they can take.

Photo: Courtesy of Esteban Naranjo, Google images

Flamingo Park, West Palm Beach, Florida

I swung my kids under the shade of one of these trees in January 2023.