Jack’s Winning Words 7/28/17
“It takes a noble person to plant a seed for a tree that will sometime give shade to people he may never meet.”  (Elton Trueblood)  “Tree-hugger” is often used as a derogatory term, but, in reality, it refers to someone who cares about the environment…what it is now and what it will be in the future.  A friend of mine (John Hartig) has devoted his life to preserving a wild life refuge on the Detroit River.  He’s an example to us of that “noble person” in the quote.    ;-)  Jack

FROM DR J IN OHIO:  I'm a tree hugger... proud to speak for the trees!====JACK:  Not only for the trees, but for the whole environment.  Someday I'd like to arrange for you to meet John Hartig and to see what he has accomplished.====DR J:  I would enjoy that!====JACK: As it says in the Bible, "Ask, and you shall receive."

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Our use of the term "noble" has changed over the years.    In the 15th century the nobles of England wasted the land and killed thousands in a senseless grab for power.    I like the use of it for a "tree hugger."   My Dad was a tree hugger.   He planted all kinds of oaks that are there now....enhancing the environment.====JACK:  Noble can have a variety of meanings.  "Honorable" is the one I like the best.  In that sense, your father, beyond being a tree-hugger, was a noble man.  You seem to have inherited that quality from him.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  proud tree and brick hugger here...====JACK:  Person-hugger, too? ====LIZ:  i try to avoid it, but i love all people.====JACK:  I save the hugs for special occasions.

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  I would like to meet John someday.====JACK:  It can be arranged.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  What an appropriate message!  My sister Kathy gave Gary a gift of enrolling him in the Arbor Day Foundation.  For $10 they will send you 10 trees.  We plan on rejoining very year to plant trees!====JACK:  That's a great idea...especially if some of them are fruit trees.  The area in which we live used to have many apple orchards...hence, the name Orchard Lake, Old Orchard Trail, Apple Blossom Lane, etc.====JUDY:  This year we ordered oaks and maples.  Next year we will order fruit because we have two apples and a pear tree already!

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  at my school we all learn to hug trees first thing. it is one of our three rules. be kind to everything. ====JACK:  Do you ever teach them to hug themselves?====MARY:  yes. another of our three rules. be kind to yourself. 

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  some years ago a Boy Scout, at my request and for his Eagle project, planted 45 pine tree seedlings around our church.  he was supposed to come by weekly to water them as it was a hot, dry summer but he did not.  by the time i realized what was happening,  30 of them had died.  so i got a bucket with a rope and went down to our pond and started watering the remaining 15 like mad!  today they are all big beautiful trees between the church and the two ponds to our south.  i only wish i had been able to save all 45 but 1/3 is better than nothing:):):)   PLH     (i still wonder if that Scout ever got his award???)====JACK:  It's sort of like the people who have been placed under our pastoral care.  They need watering, too.====PAUL:  yes indeed.  also like Luther's comment that when we wash our faces in the morning, that too should remind us of the waters of our baptism.  some good old fashion earthy theology...