John Wise

We are not trees and should stop living like them. A tree stands in one place, its roots holding fast; it will not move. During the day, it does its job, photosynthesis being the tree’s career. Every day, as the sun rises, it gets to work. Maybe the routine varies slightly depending on weather conditions, but for the most part, each workday is much like the other. When the time comes, the tree provides protective shelter to its sapling still short in stature, growing far below its parent’s branches. This part of its life cycle will be performed until the little shrub finishes growing up to be a tree standing branch to branch with its elder. During the dark of night, the tree has little to do and stands watching over the evening, looking for a car to drive by, hoping the campers put out their fire, observing the owl in its branches on a hunt for food.

A man takes his place in his community. His mortgage ties him to a home; it is unlikely he will move anytime soon. During the day, he goes to work, an office job being his career. Every day, as the sun rises, it’s time to visit the drive-thru coffee shop before sitting down at his desk. A storm prevented a colleague from coming to work, so you’ll have to help cover the workload; for the most part, this day at work is much like the others. Soon, he and his companion will begin rearing children. This time of their life cycle will require their full attention until the child finishes growing up, completing formal education, and beginning their own career. During the dark of night, the family has little to do and will watch TV, look to the internet for something exciting to be found, hope for a worthy adversary in playing an online video game, or observe the back of their eyelids on a hunt for dreams.

But man is not a tree. Our legs can take us places. Our hands can grasp things to build and create incredible works. Our minds can understand literature, sciences, and music. And yet, so many of us will find contentedness in living like a tree. Well, not me. I’m finding myself wandering the land, the space around me, and my mind. Just as one will never know much of what the universe holds, this knowledge that there is a vast unknown should be applied to ourselves so we might find an understanding that we, too, are great unknowns needing intense exploration.