Nature Observation: The TCU Christmas Tree

11/14/18

Nature Observation: The TCU Christmas Tree

When I do nature observations around campus, I find myself looking down- trying to find some small piece of nature that I overlook most days, such as a bug, rock, leaf, flower, etc. However, for today’s exercise of observing nature on campus, my eyes couldn’t part from the 40-foot tall tree TCU brings in for the Christmas season. I have never seen such a massive tree in my life. I almost find it more beautiful without all the lights and decorations on it. I mean Christmas trees in general are an interesting concept. We bring a tree (real or fake) into our homes and decorate it- it’s almost like we’re masking or adding to nature to make it aesthetically compatible with our world.

It’s so interesting and I had never given it much thought prior to seeing the giant tree in middle of the TCU commons. I am a huge fan of Christmas trees. I put mine up in my apartment at the end of October, because I just couldn’t wait. However, I realized looking at the tree in the middle of the commons- I almost don’t want them to decorate it. It’s so striking as it is. I think it’s so interesting that TCU had a tree brought in from Grand Rapids, Michigan and used a crane to place it in a precise location.

I’ve always been drawn to trees. I’m not sure why, but ever since I was a little girl I loved observing trees. I used to live in the Woodlands, which is full of pine trees- and I remember feeling mesmerized by their magnitude. Everywhere else I have lived the trees were small and extremely tailored looking. Seeing a tree as grand as the one in the commons reminds me of how small we are. It reminds me of God’s great power and the gift of beauty he gives us through nature. I guess I feel so connected to trees, because they seem powerful and wise. They are grounded by their roots, yet their branches and leaves spread out in a wonderful display.

I experienced mixed feelings looking at the tree in the commons today. I felt appreciative I get to observe the tree- there are certainly no trees that look like it in Texas. Yet, I also felt a little sad, the tree was taken from its home and will be covered in lights and ornaments. I guess it’s a strange combination of appreciation and manipulation of nature that we exercise during the holiday season.