Wednesday, February 6, 2019
OPINION
The afterlife of a
Christmas tree
“Y
ou can have any tree on the
take theirs. First they unshrouded it and
lot for five bucks,” he joked
then began telling me about how wonder-
ful it was, after which I felt like I was cart-
as I backed up to the growing
ing away their favorite pet. Other
pile of discarded Christmas trees.
“I will take them all,” I said with
used trees had various attachments,
the same sarcasm, and began load-
including ornaments that were
ing my van with as many trees as
found only after the goats were
it would hold. I was on my sixth or
done. My favorite tree had lights
16th trip to the community Christ-
and stand still attached. I could
mas tree recycle pile and was get-
only imagine somebody saying,
ting tired of the routine. I would go
“Christmas is over, and get this tree
Wes
through the newly added trees and
out of here right now!”
load those with plenty of green nee- Stonecypher
Goats welcome used trees with
dles and without tinsel, fake snow
the same enthusiasm children have
or urine smell.
for decorating new ones. They dance
A few years ago I discovered that my
around and maneuver with an attack strat-
egy. They cooperate like workmen, even
wife’s goat herd loved Christmas trees.
rolling trees over so they do not have to
I threw our used tree on a burn pile only
eat off the ground. They take short breaks
to watch it disappear in a feeding frenzy.
sitting upon the ready-to-eat tree pile then
After that I retrieved used trees from
move in like piranhas or the cartoon char-
friends, neighbors, and the recycle pile. At
acter “Sylvester the cat,” eating a fish
first I was particular about the size, spe-
cies and cultivation of a tree. A fresh, large
and finishing with a bright shiny skele-
ton. They indiscriminately eat all trees
and naturally grown fir tree with no signs
and I do not know their favorite species.
of chemicals was preferred. But as trips
I always thought about their reaction to
mounted I would load any tree with nee-
dles that would stay on long enough for
an artificial one. Affecting goats with a
the trip home.
treated tree occurred to me, but then I real-
ize that most trees are meant to be inside
I began to develop an insight into the
life of a Christmas tree. Like a Fourth of
with people.
July bomb, it goes from valuable to worth-
I am not sure of the origin of Christ-
mas trees. I wish that we could decorate
less overnight. I began my tree gather-
ing at the recycle pile when it was con-
our lives with them throughout the year.
venient for me but found it best to collect
But I have prolonged their beauty and use-
fulness by providing entertainment and
them with no onlookers. Most people,
food. The last lyric in the famous song “O
other than the mentioned salesman, would
Christmas Tree” when sung at our house
ask why I was “doing the opposite of
will always be: “… How tasty are your
everybody.”
Used trees leave their host differently.
branches.”
Once an older couple pleaded with me to
Wes Stonecypher is a Umatilla resident.
HerMIsTOnHeraLd.COM • A7
An answer to life’s problems
H
ave you ever felt like life is unfair?
redemption.
I have. I’m sure that if you’re like
For many, today, surviving can seem
almost out of reach. Circumstances
me, there have been plenty
can be so overwhelming that it
of times when you have experi-
enced situations when you thought
feels as though the sense of wellbe-
ing is slipping through their fingers.
that you were the only one going
Does that resonate with you?
through difficulty. Life can be so
Maybe you are wondering if things
ugly at times.
will ever be better than they are
I’ve discovered that when I have
right now. Sometimes it seems as
those feelings, there are at least
Dave Andrus
though the easy sounding solutions
three lies that slide into my mind.
our world throws out just don’t cut
1- No one else struggles like I do.
it. We try them. We run from one solution
2- Bad things happen to me and not to
to another solution when the previous one
them. 3- Others get what I think I deserve.
doesn’t work.
If I’m not careful, one of those
In my life, I’ve discovered a ‘redeemer’
thoughts can invade and twist the reality
who loves me regardless of the circum-
of life when I’m experiencing struggles.
stances I may face. A ‘redeemer’ who
The truth is that every one of us will face
never turns his back on me. For you see,
times of difficulty regardless of what level
a ‘redeemer’ is one who pays the price
of pain it may be.
for ransom; who buys back one who is
There is an historical account found
unwanted. His name is Jesus.
in the Bible (Book of Ruth) about two
Just like Naomi and Ruth discovered
women who faced unbelievable circum-
stances that would have taken most of
a ‘redeemer’ in their situations, I have
us down. Both women lost their hus-
been forever changed by the one and only
bands. Both Naomi and Ruth found them-
‘redeemer’ who promises what no other
selves displaced in foreign countries. Both
person or entity on earth can fulfill.
of them encountered hardships which,
I know what you are thinking. That
today, seem unimaginable. Yet, in spite
sounds too good to be true. But I have
of the ugliness and severe pain which
found that in a world of uncertainty, he is
each of them suffered, they not only sur-
the answer to my doubt and insecurity.
vived, they thrived. In the end, each of
Dave Andrus is pastor of New Hope
them discovered not just healing, but also
Community Church in Hermiston.
LETTER
Pool before skatepark
I am disappointed that the city of Herm-
iston chose to build a skate park instead of
a covered swimming pool. I think the lat-
ter would serve a much greater population
than the former.
Mike Mehren, Hermiston
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