Thread: apologize to trees

Originally Posted by Sunrise Guy

So you're not an animist, eh? I'm not sure how long you've been in the trees, but if you have never sensed a certain power coming from them while aloft and felt a certain bonding with them while at work, I wonder how much you respect the trees you work on and how much positive energy you put into making the work you do on them serve them well.

Nope, not an animist. Isn't it kind of elitist to assume that since I have a different view of trees from most of the postings that I don't perform good tree work? I posted to offer a different viewpoint. I didn't really want to start a war on beliefs, just offer an opinion. I'm not sure how anyone could do this job without a love for the beauty and majesty of trees. I just believe that they are part of God's creation over which we have stewardship. My work ethic is this:
Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

If you find fault with that so be it.
Best regards,
Phil

Originally Posted by Small Wood

Nope, not an animist. Isn't it kind of elitist to assume that since I have a different view of trees from most of the postings that I don't perform good tree work? I posted to offer a different viewpoint. I didn't really want to start a war on beliefs, just offer an opinion. I'm not sure how anyone could do this job without a love for the beauty and majesty of trees. I just believe that they are part of God's creation over which we have stewardship. My work ethic is this:
Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

If you find fault with that so be it.
Best regards,
Phil

I got to say in all my time, I have never once stopped to give any thought, spiritual or otherwise, to the "soul" of the trees I have felled, or pruned. But then I wouldnt pray for the road-kill under my wheels either. Perhaps this makes me an evil person, perhaps we Brits see things in a different light, I dunno. I dont know of anyone else I've worked with who would offer a prayer either, come to think of it. Perhaps some of you guys are just a little insane?

Originally Posted by Big A

I got to say in all my time, I have never once stopped to give any thought, spiritual or otherwise, to the "soul" of the trees I have felled, or pruned. But then I wouldnt pray for the road-kill under my wheels either. Perhaps this makes me an evil person, perhaps we Brits see things in a different light, I dunno. I dont know of anyone else I've worked with who would offer a prayer either, come to think of it. Perhaps some of you guys are just a little insane?

Hey Big A,

Just wondering,
what does the A, stand for ?

Originally Posted by kevinj

Hey Big A,

Just wondering,
what does the A, stand for ?

probably what you're thinking, lol

Originally Posted by Small Wood

Nope, not an animist. Isn't it kind of elitist to assume that since I have a different view of trees from most of the postings that I don't perform good tree work? I posted to offer a different viewpoint. I didn't really want to start a war on beliefs, just offer an opinion. I'm not sure how anyone could do this job without a love for the beauty and majesty of trees. I just believe that they are part of God's creation over which we have stewardship. My work ethic is this:
Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

If you find fault with that so be it.
Best regards,
Phil

OK, no problem. I can respect your viewpoint. I meant no offense.

It is good to read that you do have "a love for the beauty and majesty of trees." Without that, how can anyone do our job the right way, over the long haul?

Ya man, I love trees very much despite the fact that i am a removal specialist as well. A silent apology for a beautiful specimen is not out of order, it's not worship, but a little remorse for destroying something nice, despite the reasoning. Praying for safety is a good idea as well, always. You need faith in this business.

Have you ever read "Journey to Ixland".... by Carlos Castaneda? Don Juan is a Yaqui "priest" training his apprentice, Carlos, in the Yaqui spiritual tradition. He tells Carlos that he must learn to speak to the bushes in a loud and clear voice. This is a lesson for Carlos (amongst other things) to give up his sense of "self-importance"...

Part of another lesson is learning to use death as an advisor... Recognizing that our mortality can advise us in learning to live a good and full life. The Native traditions tend to recognize death as the ultimate equalizer. So that is something I state out loud... Today I ask you (the trees) to give away your life, in the knowing that my dying day is coming soon. There is a certain humility in that recognition...

As far as the tobaco goes, I don;t smoke it... never have... just place it on Mother Earth.... I've studied quite a bit of the Bible and don't recall any direct prohibitions against tobaco... Would the tobaco companies allow that???

I don't agree with the perspective that humans have dominion over nature. I think someone called it stewartship... I favor the perspective that we are all part of the web of life and humans have for the most part forgotten how to live in harmony with ourselves and nature... Though I consider myself a Christian, I don't give the Christian religions as they are practiced today high marks... Christian societies have recently and historically been very destructive... Somehow killing all those people appears to lack the love that Christ taught.

Originally Posted by murphy4trees

Have you ever read "Journey to Ixland".... by Carlos Castaneda? Don Juan is a Yaqui "priest" training his apprentice, Carlos, in the Yaqui spiritual tradition. He tells Carlos that he must learn to speak to the bushes in a loud and clear voice. This is a lesson for Carlos (amongst other things) to give up his sense of "self-importance"...

Part of another lesson is learning to use death as an advisor... Recognizing that our mortality can advise us in learning to live a good and full life. The Native traditions tend to recognize death as the ultimate equalizer. So that is something I state out loud... Today I ask you (the trees) to give away your life, in the knowing that my dying day is coming soon. There is a certain humility in that recognition...

As far as the tobaco goes, I don;t smoke it... never have... just place it on Mother Earth.... I've studied quite a bit of the Bible and don't recall any direct prohibitions against tobaco... Would the tobaco companies allow that???

I don't agree with the perspective that humans have dominion over nature. I think someone called it stewartship... I favor the perspective that we are all part of the web of life and humans have for the most part forgotten how to live in harmony with ourselves and nature... Though I consider myself a Christian, I don't give the Christian religions as they are practiced today high marks... Christian societies have recently and historically been very destructive... Somehow killing all those people appears to lack the love that Christ taught.

actually walking/living the talk when you come up against the real tests/challenges is a completely different story BUT talking the talk is the first step to walking it, and is going in the right direction for sure!!

Stewardship or dominion? It all depends on how you translate the Aramaic. One means caring, the other controlling. I'm all for stewardship, conserving trees by selling arboriculture instead of removals. It's a better business all around.

If you look at the role that trees play in the earth's current climate change, conservation is the only way to go.

Originally Posted by Big A

probably what you're thinking, lol

Thats pretty funny. I like trees too, doesn't stop me from cutting them down, its my job. Nothing wrong with respect for living things, I feel bad about running over dogs, but not so bad about cats, wonder why?