Matric Tree Planting Ceremony
On 21 September the Boys’ College Matrics planted trees to commemorate the culmination of their time at St Stithians. It is a legacy which the boys will enjoy for years to come as when one plants a tree, it is a legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Trees occupy an important physical and symbolic space on our campus. The most points of which is the stained glass windows at the back of the Chapel. It is an arching of coloured glass fragments that all emanate from a single, yellow round sphere. It is meant to depict the parable of the mustard seed: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
I hope that the tree planting holds a special significance for each of the Matrics and perhaps these are some of the lessons which we could learn from them:
- Its never too late - The oldest seed that has grown into a tree is 2000 years old. It is never too late to germinate, to learn, to grow. Late bloomers are not a bad thing.
- Even the giants start small - The largest trees in the world started from a seed. Don’t be intimidated by big things because they all started small.
- Every seed has potential - Seeds are incredible as the potential for life lies dormant within their husk until it is activated by the right conditions of rain, light and nutrients. Do we surround ourselves with these components in order to activate our own potential, and more importantly, do we see the potential in others?
- Trees need light - For me, this is the most important lesson from trees. They need light, not darkness. Do we surround ourselves who emanate light and positivity or do we congregate with the dark mood hoovers?
- Be a producer, not a consumer - It is incredible how much trees give. They always give. They provide habitats, homes, nutrients and food. They provide oxygen and water too. This staggered me into a sharp awareness of how much we take as people. Maybe we could be a bit more like the trees? Maybe we could give?
