Trees give abundantly.

    

The season of Rambutan for 2020 is over in our garden. We were able to share our fruits with about thirty people in our neighbourhood and friends in our department. A sapling which was planted five years ago reached out to all of them through its fruits. This is the mission of a tree- to scatter its produce widely. 

Professor Jacob T John while talking about the trees in the Campus of the Christian Medical College at Bagayam, Vellore, recalled once what he watched during his fifty years of association with the campus. The campus has patches of forest like appearance with trees, shrubs and plants. Most of them have come up from bird droppings. Although there was a planned planting of trees in the initial years during Dr Ida Scudder's time, most of the thick growth was through seeds dropped by birds. So the campus has trees which are not seen commonly in the neighbourhood. 

Trees give birth to more trees. Trees offer fruits. Trees give us timber. Tress give us  foliage which is a rich source of nitrogen for soil when used in compost. Trees feed the birds and give them shelter and home. Trees give shade to labourers, who work in the field. Trees protect the soil from getting scorched in heat. 

Now the Rambutan tree has a bare look after the harvesting of its fruits. It would remain like this for a year now, growing and nourishing itself to give fruits in the next season, 

The gardener has been at work for a week now to dig around the trees for putting manure. As he finished it in one portion of the garden, he told me yesterday that, we have 'given them what they need for giving us fruits next year'. 

That was a comment which helped me to think further about the cycle of a tree. It gives fruits because it is taken care of. 

Trees tell us a lot the way we are called to live. They give us in return for what we give. 

I wish,  each of us can live by offering good experiences to others!  

I came across a family yesterday, who stitches twenty masks and distribute them each day in the town. They do their part to protect people from getting infected with COVID 19. 

I feel challenged by such a gesture!

A family who called me yesterday to talk about their daughter said, 'Can you give me some time to explain what we are finding about our daughter'! At the end of that conversation, I realised that the family was overburdened with concerns and pressures. 

Each of us can give something small to others. That is the way we make giving as the way of living!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)