What trees will you plant?
This past Sunday at church, someone quoted the old Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” As the speaker continued to make a connection with the proverb and the future of our church, I quietly sat with the words and let them wash over me.
The ancient stoics and philosophers were beyond wise. Often with little else to do, they sat for hours with their own thoughts. In the stillness, they heard the wisdom of the ages. If only modern humanity would follow the advice from our ancestors, the world would be so much kinder, more genuine and more meaningful.
I know many wonderful older men and women who are working hard and using their time and resources to offer “shade” they may never sit in. I love seeing older people use reusable water bottles or take in their own grocery bags to the store. I know these are small actions, but it shows me that they care what happens to our planet for generations to come.
I know older individuals who give time and money to our local schools, churches and youth sports, even if they don’t have grandchildren participating. They are happy to share their talents, knowledge and resources to create more “shade.”
“Planting trees” and “creating shade” offer a multitude of metaphors, but at their core, it essentially means the older generations will create a better world for the younger generations.
From a local lens, I still see a lot of trees being planted, but from a global lens, it can seem that older generations are unconcerned about the future of our world. Unfortunately, the loudest voices often get the most attention and with young minds being impressionable, this can feel disorienting.
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One of the most well-known verses of the Tao Te Ching, the guiding principles for Taoism, says:
Those who know do not talk.
Those who talk do not know.
We need to remind our children that the truly wise are often quiet and only speak when there is something profound to be said.
Modern culture promotes winning, accumulating and a performative nature. On the surface, it makes it appear that individualism is more important than altruism. Again, we must intentionally teach our children and model that giving back is more fulfilling than obsessing over personal gains.
David Brooks, former political columnist for The New York Times and moderate conservative, quoted a few concerning statistics in a recent episode of Amanpour & Co. He said that when survey participates were asked if they trust their neighbors, 60% of baby boomers (born 1946-1964) and Gen X folks (born 1965-1980) said yes, while only 19% of millennials (born 1981-1996) and Gen Z individuals (born 1997-2012) said yes.
Additionally, when millennials and Gen Z participants were asked if most people are selfish and out to get you, 72% said yes. Younger generations view the world as harsh, bitter and challenging to navigate.
Despite the depressing statistics, Brooks went on to talk about “rupture and repair.” It happens in our own lives and in collective cultures. It’s a period of time where we have to break down old thought patterns and habits to rebuild something stronger, better and more suited to the zeitgeist. As a country, we’re currently in a state of rupture and repair, and we just need to hold steady, be patient, question the loudest voices, and have faith that we’ll come out of stronger.
All of these thoughts combined motivate me to help shift the narrative for our youth. I’m the mom/stepmom to five teenagers/young adults, and I want more than anything for them to have hope in and excitement for the future. But it doesn’t merely come from me as their parent, it must come from all of us — friends, extended family, mentors, teachers, coaches, church members, neighbors, everyone.
Let’s not always focus on national and global issues. Let’s reel it back in a little to our families and communities. Offering a solid base and deep roots is often the best thing we can do for young people.
As you go about your week and your life, I want you to consider this question. What trees will you plant in whose shade you may never sit?
