Trees, the Writer’s Friend by Alan Anderson

 

“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy”—Psalm 96:12 (NIV)

 

Trees are our Friends

 

I graduated from high school a few years after dinosaurs bid farewell, a long time ago! The world did not seem as crazy as it is now. There was hustle and bustle, of course, but, at least in my experience, there wasn’t an information overload as one experiences today. People were busy working, going to institutes of higher learning, raising families, and finding their place in the world. This still happens today. Oh yes, and writers were writing. We often used pens, pencils, and if we could afford one, a typewriter, to put our words onto paper.

 

Speaking of pencils and paper, did you know they have something in common? You guessed it, they both come from trees. I mean the wood part of the pencil comes from trees. Pencils and paper are best buddies of writers. This means trees are also a writer’s friend.

 

Trees have strong roots

 

I live in an area surrounded by trees, both evergreens and deciduous. By walking among trees, they have taught me about the part they play in God’s creation. They are home to all kinds of birds, from little chickadees to bald and golden eagles. Five minutes walk from my home is a dike by a water body known as Nicomen Slough. Across the slough are small farms, homes, a school, and a store, all watched over by tree-covered mountains. Wow, a sight to behold!

 

Strong winds often visit the area at certain times of the year. Any tree that cannot withstand the winds does not last long. The ones who have survived for countless decades have strong roots holding them fast to the ground. The trees grow near water and the water gives them life.

 

Trees have Stamina

 

The dike feels the footsteps of residents of the area all year round. Walks on the dike are worth every step. Observant walkers will notice trees waving as they stroll by. The trees wave because they love the company of people. They even sing through the colours of their leaves when a creative person walks by.

 

You see, the waving trees all have stamina, this ability to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity like strong winds, heat waves, and torrential downpours. Trees recognize writers rooted in a call from God as those who also have stamina. These are writers who respond well to rejection and polish their writing instead of giving up. Writers with stamina work on their projects until they, like the trees, sing. When writers walk in the presence of trees, they are with kindred spirits.

 

Writers are like Trees

“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.”—Jeremiah 17:8

 

Trees give us cause to be inspired and write well. To walk among trees may cause a seed of a story, poem, article, or song to sprout into life. With this act of creation, the writer creatively sings and declares God, the Master Writer, will bring one’s words to life.

 

Through all the time they have existed, trees still stand strong. They tell endless stories of all they have witnessed as part of God’s handiwork. Trees are a constant reminder for writers to know they also create beauty. Wise writers learn from strong-rooted trees. We can ensure that we root our efforts and skills in God's call on our lives.

 

 

 

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around, where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. His website is https://scarredjoy.ca.