Lessons from the Mighty Sequoia

I was very inspired by a sharing which I had heard of today about sequoia trees, in particular, lessons which we can learn from these giant trees. So I went all out to google for something about these giant trees, and found this meaningful article "Lessons from the Mighty Sequoia" written by Dan Dowd.

Link: http://www.ucg.org/science/lessons-mighty-sequoia/

 

Here are the list of impactful lessons I have learned from this article:

• Even the smallest of seeds can produce the tallest of trees
• While the sequoia is massive when fully grown, the cone it produces is only the size of a chicken egg, with seeds smaller than oat flakes.
• Fire is necessary for the sequoia to reproduce
• Fire is a purifying process even in forests. What looks like a trial for the sequoia is in reality the process they need for future growth.
• Fire clears the underbrush so newly germinated seeds can grow
• Since the sequoia can withstand fire that consumes most other trees, it is left standing after the fire is extinguished. As a result, the ground around it is not only cleared for its seeds to germinate, but the ground has also been fertilized with the ashes of those other burned trees and underbrush. The seeds can only grow successfully in full sunlight, free from overshadowing vegetation.
• Faith carries you through the fires of life and helps you grow.
• Sequoias don't die of old age - they die from falling down
• The sequoia is so resistant to pests and fire that their most common cause of death is simply falling down. The roots of sequoias only go 6 to 20 feet into the ground, and a sufficient windstorm can topple them, particularly if there is a buildup of ice and snow on the branches.
• But sequoias don't typically grow alone. They grow in groves. Even though their roots may only grow 20 feet deep, those roots spread out to cover a wide area—intertwining with other sequoias. Combined together, their roots help them to withstand the winds.
• Sequoias can die from fire - if the fire gets through their protective bark
• The mighty sequoias are unique with their fire-resistant bark, but if there is an opening in the bark or if fire is too close to the roots, then the fire can get inside or underneath the bark. Once fire gets past the bark there is nothing to stop it. The fire won't consume the tree immediately, as there are still the tannins that resist fire, but the fire will smolder, essentially slow-burning the tree from the inside out.
• Becoming offended, being offensive or harboring hatred, anger or wrong desire is like a slow-burning fire that can consume us from the inside.

Morale of this sharing: Even if you started life humbly as a small seed, with an adequate amount of challenges and trials, strong faith, association with the right people, and avoiding negativity in your thoughts, you can eventually grow to become a giant tree like the sequoia.