We've recently planted over 150 trees.  Palm trees, fruit trees, ficus trees, Avocado trees.  It has been one of the most inspiring, softening times in my life. 

A college group from just outside Toronto has been here this week, helping do some of this stuff and also visiting orphans in Matamoros.  As we were watering the trees, carefully pouring one gallon down the opening stem of the palms, then slowly releasing the 4 gallons onto the ground around it...but not too fast and not too close to the trunk, I was asked this question.

"If it's this much work, how do they survive in the wild?" 

I paused for a second...looking around a saw a couple palms across the road.  Definately in the wild.  They were dwarfed, they had never been pruned and head dead palms hanging all over like a man who's beard was out of control.  The palms thereselves were not the vibrant green of our palms. 

They will survive in the wild, without the hand of man, but they will not thrive.

That's how God created nature.  Linked it to the hand of man.  The duties He gave to Adam haven't changed: gaurd, keep, cultivate...its just a little more work than before.  But I must wonder this.  What about us...when we are completely cut off...left alone in the wild we still survive.  But do we thrive.