Just another elm tree…

There is an elm tree in front of our house that is a magnificent tree, having been a seedling when our city was still in its 20’s.  This tree may be just another tree to many, but to me, it is a monument… a depiction of how life should be lived.  It stands tall and proud around 60-75 feet and its canopy spans over the roadway providing pedways for the squirrels and protection from the elements.  Year after year it dances with the wind, shelters from the rain and carries the burden of heavy snow. The events it has seen, I can only imagine.  

This elm has been subject to a couple adversities in the very short time I have known it.  In a wind storm a couple of years ago there was a loud crack and it was split in two down its trunk to its base.  The city was called and it was bolted and wired to aid in its recovery.  Although it still shows the scars of this event, it has continued to grow and bear its canopy every spring and provides a home to many neighbourhood birds. 

Last Saturday there was a very loud bang that could be heard for miles.  The elm was struck by lightning.  The electricity flowed through it and came out one of the bolts in an explosion of bark and wood pieces that sprayed across our yard.  It was wounded badly.  The nearly healed split from years previous opened once again and sap drained from its large trunk like tears.  The bark began to peel from it and insects started to invade.  It looked to be the end for this 80 year old gift from Mother Nature.  As I watched it struggle I felt sadness.  This tree that stood here for close to a century, which lived through droughts, a tornado, countless storms and many other adversities, was to be taken down by a split second occurrence; Mother Nature’s power at its best. 

I called the city once again.  They came and took a look at the wounds.  They performed some surgery and voila!  The tree will be okay!  It will live to watch over many more generations.  It will continue to shelter children as they walk to school and protect the vehicles from hail.   It will persevere and overcome this tragedy. 

I hope to live my life as strong as this tree.  I, like it, will suffer in life, this I know, as we all do suffer our own tragedies throughout our existence.  Like this tree, I hope to be able to rise above them and be able to heal.  Sure, scars will show, but these scars will tell a tale of events overcome and experience had.  And like this tree, I may need help from others to aid in this healing, and although it is in my nature, I will not refuse it, because sometimes even the strongest need help once in a while.  Although just another elm, this tree has taught me many things about life.