Most of my errands are short. Which means that I only get a portion of the stories on the news. This weekend I heard the tail end of one about how when trees begin to die they somehow gift their energy, in the form of carbon, to neighboring trees. This benevolence is not specific to their own species, or even the nearest trunks. It is possible that it goes to the younger ones who have a greater need. The scientist used the word intelligence, as being an attribute in these exchanges. Smart Douglas firs. 

 

As chance would have it, the next clip was about how the elderly are more vulnerable to money scams. Predators entice them to transfer large sums of cash, just as their victims' decision making skills are slipping. It struck me as kind of the polar opposite of the forest population. Or the poplar one. 

 

Last week I listened to a talk on On the Left Eye about Balaam. The magician was hired to cast a curse on the Children of Israel, and traveled there on his faithful donkey. But the donkey saw the armed angel who stood in his way, and turned off the road to avoid being killed. Three times the animal saved Balaam's life, who by the way rewarded him with beatings. Finally the donkey's mouth is opened, and he pleads his case. 

 

 

If I were given a chance to be one of the two characters in this particular scene, I would opt for the animal. He or she was more heroic than the human. 

 

Redwood or shyster. Beast of labor or mercenary. 

 

People are not always the stars of the show. We do not hold a monopoly on generosity, or wisdom. But we can change. It is within our potential to observe the altruism all around us, and strive after it.