- Education
- Nature
- Theology
In the glorious year of fifth grade, students are challenged with a perplexing situation as they enter my indoor classroom to study trees.
"Why study trees? Is this another gardening class?" Or even more importantly, "Will we be eating them??" Well, fear not, young grasshoppers. For I speak for the trees, and I will tell you.
After God and people, would you believe that the most mentioned living creatures in the Bible are trees? They are so important – more so than just providing food, shelter, or recreation – but for their stories! Of all the stories, perhaps none is greater than the story of God.
In the very beginning, God formed a garden, the Garden of Eden. There He made all kinds of trees grow from the ground which were delicious to the eyes and tongue. Amongst these trees was perhaps the most known of all – the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Only after this abundant forest was born was the first human created and placed among their leaves and branches.
This glimpse of the introduction into trees, sets the tone for the remainder of our studies. Each week students are provided with a live tree to draw, examine, and ponder which of the steppingstones in that great story they might be. Can you think of any? An olive perhaps? What of oaks and sycamores? Figs or vines? With each tree, there is a new reference, a new story with meaning and purpose. Sometimes it is faith, repentance, a blessing or curse, redemption or rebirth. These stories are not the sole purpose, but it is that story — the story of our faith, God, and ourselves — which lives through trees that gives such importance to our study.
And yes, we do sometimes eat.