Crescent Moon and Our Dead Tree

It was twilight, and as I looked out the window, I saw this view: the waxing crescent moon, which is a promise of a fuller moon, in the shadow of a bare tree.

I thought to myself, this may be the last time I’ll be seeing this sight. No, I’m not talking about the moon. Even though it will go into different phases, and will rise and set every night, yet the moon will be around for a long long time. I’m talking about our dead tree. We scheduled it to be cut down soon.

We have 3 more dead trees in our yard. They are all emerald ash. We already lost one in our front yard a few years ago (see story here). These type of trees are dying one by one in our area because of the wood-boring beetle known as emerald ash borer. The larva of this beetle eat the inner bark of an ash tree, essentially eating away the tree’s circulatory system for transporting food and water, thus cutting its nutrition. The inner bark does not grow back. Within 2 to 5 years of infestation the tree dies. These “parasitic beetles” are like cancer cells to their host trees, eating their way inside while starving their host to death.

This invasive beetle was accidentally introduced from Asia into the US in the 1990’s via the wood from shipping crates. They came here without proper passports and immigration papers. Since then these unwanted guests were responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in America and Canada. Including the ones in our yard.

There was one tree that we tried to save by having the “tree doctor” inject something to fight the infestation, but after a couple of months it looks that it is still on the chopping block.

These trees are beautiful. At least when they were living and thriving. They provided us shade from the hot afternoon sun while we sat in our deck. It provided us oxygen while we exhale out carbon dioxide from our lungs. But now they are ghost branches devoid of leaves and life, waiting to be cut down and perhaps turned into firewood or mulch. At least it would be used for another purpose.

Regrettably our lives can be like our ash trees. We can get something in us that can bring us down. Beautiful and thriving one day, and then limping and just trying to survive another day. We wish we could be like the moon that waxes and wanes and yet continue to exist forever. But no, we are like the trees. Our days and our summers will run out of time. Perhaps we are even like the morning dew, or a runner’s breath.

Yet I believe that we all exist for a purpose. Whether it is to provide shade or give off oxygen, or to provide joy or give off inspiration, or to love and be loved, or whatever reason we’re placed in this world. Short or long existence, we have a purpose. Even for the invasive beetle. Yes, even affliction. It redirects us to the right goals.

Though I still hope we get rid of this “parasitic beetle.”