Assistant county ranger pens ode to trees
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
HAMLET — Chris McGee, assistant county ranger with the Richmond County office of the North Carolina Forest Service, penned “Trees are Terrific from Every Angle” and read the piece to an audience of more than 100 people on April 24 during a tree planting at the National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame.
The tree planting and unveiling of a monument in honor of Dr. William “Bill” Willams coincided with Arbor Day and was coordinated by the Hamlet Tree and Beautification Group.
“Trees are Terrific from Every Angle”
By Chris McGee
Well today I would like you to know that trees are terrific from every angle.
Considering the items that we use each day that have been woven in our lives to make things easier, such as furniture, books, paper products, lumber, tools, foods, many diverse yet common items, all come from trees.
We could say today that trees may be the most essential resource we have. Not only do they provide us with fresh clean air, help reduce erosion, filter our rivers and lakes, but provide us with many kinds of fruits, vitamins, seasonings, medicines, fuel to heat and cook, products for shelter and coffees and teas.
Those of us that appreciate songbirds and wildlife, trees are the gateway to inviting them into our yards and farms. Trees provide them with nuts, acorns, fleshly fruits, nesting material, nesting areas, cover from the elements and protection from predators.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Chris McGee, assistant county ranger with the North Carolina Forest Service, and County Ranger Matt Gordon led students in planting two Kousa Dogwood trees in honor of Dr. William “Bill” Williams.
On the third day of creation when God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass and the herb yielding seed,” He also called for the tree, yielding fruit after his kind, and God saw that it was good.
There’s an account many years ago of a man that had a need in his life; if only he could reach a little higher he could have his need met. So he climbed a sycamore tree, for he was a man short of stature. How convenient it was that the tree was there to help him reach out and gain the attention of the Savior as He passed by.
Sycamore trees are a wonderful shade tree, but in Zacheus’ case, it was much more than that; it helped to bring salvation to his home. How awesome it is to consider that a little seed could one day play such an important role in a person’s life.
Trees are not only wonderful in beauty, but they also help us reach little higher in our lives when we really need it most. They play a role we often over look, taking for granted just all they give.
From the angle of the discouraged, under its branches her friend listens and encourages, reminding her of good things.
From the angle of the Great Aventurer, trees are an awesome mountain to climb. Scaling every branch of his imagination climbing to the top, staving the flag of victory while he looks for that perfect place to build his tree house.
For those that have lost a loved one, a tree is a memorial. As it blooms, it fills their hearts with a flood of wonderful memories of times they sat together in that old swing or took walks down the path. Trees are a gift from the Hand of the Artist, painted in the canvas of our lives, a blessing in so many ways — terrific from every angle.
Trees remind us of good things, good memories, the old farm, the fishing hole, our fort as a kid. Trees help to meet our needs and brighten our days.
We can learn a lot from trees; that each day we ought to stand up, lift our branches, face the wind, smile at the sun, be thankful for the rain, bare good fruit, be green/true, shelter others, provide for the needy, bind together, and let our roots be grounded by the river of living water that we shall not be moved.
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