Together We’re Better

Over the weekend I started learning about Redwood trees—purely by accident and if I told you how I arrived there you wouldn’t believe it.  Redwood trees can be thousands of years old and are found primarily in California. They are the tallest trees in the world.  I became curious about how a tree could survive so long particularly in an area where they would be subject to strong winds and raging floods.  I assumed their roots must grow incredibly deep.  What I learned instead is that Redwood trees have shallow roots that intertwine with other Redwood trees and even fuse together.  These roots extend up to 100 feet from the base of the trunk.  The trees are literally holding one another up. Interestingly, the trees relationship to one another isn’t just for support, they share nutrients as well.  Only Redwoods have the strength and ability to support other Redwoods.

When I learned this about the Redwoods I immediately thought of our organization and then our community—we support and nourish one another through friendship, celebration, kindness, honest feedback, knowledge sharing and a myriad of other things.  I thought about how we are doing the same as the trees for those whose lives we touch, whether they are visitors or total strangers, and I suddenly felt unshakable.  I thought about how in my short time in Grant County I have been lucky to find friends with whom to intertwine my life.  I’ve been lucky to find a work family that cares not just for everyone else, but for me as well.  And a faith family that cares for me in spite of myself.

So when I’m asked, “why do you do the work you do and live in the place you live?”  My new answer is, “because I’m in among Redwoods.”  Like the Redwoods, I believe we can weather anything as long as we do it together.

Together we’re better.