En-Tree #4

I love leaves.

Growing up all of us grand-kids would get together in my grandparents' back yard and rake up all the leaves and play in them. This, of course, was hampered by Dad telling us a story about a girl getting bit on the butt by a black widow, while playing in leaves. But, we were brave kids, we continued to romp!

Most people love fall leaves, but it's not just the fall for me.

I love to see them bloom and then grow into giant green shapes.

Leaves are not just for looking good or providing shade, although those things are great; leaves functionality is incredible!

The purpose of the leaf is to provide food for the tree through photosynthesis and release oxygen through the two guard cells.

Without leaves, trees would surely die, but so would all living creatures on earth (I'm not going into the whole using carbon dioxide and making oxygen stuff yet, that's for a later blog).

You can also tell how healthy a tree is by "reading" the leaves.

I feel that as humans, our heads are our "leaves." Kinda far out, you probably think, "Bo is really reaching this time!" but give me a minute to explain.

Our mouths are where we get our food, and in many ways give life to other people. You never know what a kind word to someone can mean; imagine this person, if you will: "A young girl has been raised in an abusive home, she has sought her entire life for a sense of belonging, a sense of love, a moment of happiness. After being in an abusive relationship, she decides that she does nothing good for anyone, she is useless and, in general, the world would be a better place without her. No one cares about her. No one will notice when she is gone. Suicide is the obvious choice. On her way to the drug store to buy a bottle of pills to end her life, she passes you... What do you say? What kind of look do you give her?"

One nice word from someone could be the difference in life or death. (I know, I know... I'm making up extreme situations to give people guilt trips for being in bad moods, but what if it were your sister? brother? mom? dad?)

Also, on our head is our face (shocking, I know). Through our facial expressions people can often tell the status of what's going on inside of us.

Another thing on our heads is our hair (or lack thereof, Dad). Our hair says a lot about who we are. Currently, I get a lot of weird looks because I am preparing to portray Peter in our upcoming Passion Play (a little alliteration for ya). So, I have shaggy, curly, un-kept hair and a bushy, 3 month beard. This gives people the impression that I am either a beatnik or don't have the money to afford proper hair products.

I'm sure there are more similarities I could draw, but these are the ones that are pertinent to my life right now. Hopefully, you can use them, as well.

"An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up."
--Proverb 12:25