Sunday, November 13, 2011

Legacy

Ecologists tell us that a young tree grows better when it's planted in an area with older trees.  The reason, it seems, is that the roots of the young tree are able to follow the pathways created by former trees and implant  themselves more deeply.  Over time, the roots of many trees may actually graft themselves to one another, creating an intricate, interdependent foundation hidden under the ground.  In this way, stronger trees share resources with weaker ones so that the whole forest becomes healthier.  That's legacy: an interconnection across time, with a need for those who have come before and and a responsibility to those who come after us.


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