Purposefully Planting Shade Trees
With the rise of the temperatures and the hint of a sizzling summer just around the corner, sitting in the shade with a tall glass of lemonade is mighty inviting. The concept of shade is appreciated by all the cultures of the earth, but especially here in Arizona, where we definitely feel a pressing need for shelter from the scorching rays of the sun.
Shade in Afrikaans is skakering or skadu; shade in Danish is skygge; shade in Dutch is *nuance (interesting) or schakering or *nuancering (even more interesting); shade in Finnish is varjo; shade in French is ombrage or ombre or *nuance (there it is again) or teinte; shade in German is beschatten; shade in Italian is ombra or tinta; shade in Latin is umbra and shade in Spanish is sombra. (Our English word "nuance" is derived from the French language and means slight variations in shades of color, meaning or expression.)
Shade protects, screens and hides. Sometimes shade even provides a secluded retreat from the busy affairs of the day. STOP right here and REFLECT on the last time you swayed in a hammock beneath glorious shade trees.
Did you know that some trees are grown to specifically produce shade? Did you also know shade trees not only radiate beauty and compliment their surroundings, but that they were purposefully handed down by our predecessors as a legacy?
The maxim "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago" is credited to both Les Brown and Warren Buffett. This statement is a reminder that greatness is not found in possessions, power, position or prestige but in a thoughtful and generous model steeped in goodness, humility, service and character.
Our predecessors revered God and understood they had a responsibility to leave the world in a better place for generations to come. They read and understood that God is the source of all good things. Psalm 121:5 & 6 says, The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. They decided to imitate Him and bless our world instead of cursing it.
Today, I am faced with many choices. Instead of stripping my world in a narcissistic fashion, I would like to be remembered for planting a few glorious shade trees for the next generation. All it takes is purposeful choices. What choices will you make?
