More than a century ago, Joyce Kilmer wrote his famous poem, Trees.

“I think that I shall never see,” Kilmer began, “a poem lovely as a tree.” Kilmer’s poem reflects on the beauty and majesty of trees and even ascribes human-like characteristics to them.

For example, a tree “looks at God all day,” and “lifts her leafy arms to pray.” Anyone who reads this poem will quickly see that Kilmer was greatly impressed by the beauty and majesty of trees.

And yet, I suspect that even Kilmer would be flabbergasted at a resolution passed by a small town west of Montreal. Earlier this year, Terrasse-Vaudreuil town council voted unanimously to officially recognize trees as living beings with rights of their own.

Re: As I See It by James Loewen, Trump’s cheating personality at golf reveals his true personality, and Viewpoint by Mary Lou Driedger, Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges, Aug. 13, The Carillon.

I read the recent columns by James Loewen and Mary Lou Driedger with considerable disappointment. Both are entitled to their opinions, but surely we can debate political issues without vicious name-calling or questioning the patriotism of Canadians who disagree.

Mr. Loewen describes President Donald Trump as “evil, ignorant, incurious, corrupt,” a “malignant narcissist,” “cruel” and a “bully.” What purpose does this serve? If he disagrees with Trump’s policies, criticize them. But this kind of personal attack contributes nothing to intelligent political discussion.

Donald Trump seems to live rent-free in Mr. Loewen’s head. Why can he never find something positive to write about in our country rather than continually obsessing over the American president?

“He (Elijah) finally laid down under a solitary broom bush. He longed for his own death… suddenly a messenger tapped him and said to him, ‘Get up! Eat something!’ Elijah opened his eyes and saw flatbread baked on glowing coals and a jar of water right by his head… Elijah got up, ate and drank, and went refreshed by that food for 40 days and nights until he arrived at Horeb, God’s mountain. There he went into a cave and spent the night. The Lord’s word came to him.” - 1 Kings 19:5a-9a

This summer I had an adventurous canoe trip with my son. As we passed the point of an uninhabited island I felt someone watching us. I looked up and at the top of the barren tree was a large bald eagle peering down at me. As we paddled around the corner, we saw a large buck by the shore. A minute after that we saw a woman sitting on the island. As we came closer, we saw a deflated raft on the shore. We called out to her, “Do you need help?” Suddenly a man came out of the bush yelling, “Take me! Leave her!” Trying to assess the situation, I asked the woman again if she was OK. “My sister lives in Pinawa and is coming to get me,” came her reply. With that, we loaded up the man and set off across the channel to Pinawa. In those five minutes he unloaded on us how he loves this woman, but sometimes they just don’t get along. By the time we arrived he softened a little and tells us, “You should go back and get her.” When we did our second trip, in the canoe she also unloaded on us how she loves this man but sometimes can’t stand him. Back together on the mainland, I encouraged the couple that if the relationship is worth having, it needs a lot of heart work. They nodded in agreement.

Wilderness reveals our limits and pushes us to look for what else we can rely on beyond our usual means. Wilderness can be peopleless and pathless. Not an easy place. However, the story of Elijah reminds us that being alone in nature can reorient our trust in God. Like He did for Elijah in the wilderness, God may send someone to help us and God himself my whisper to us the bigger picture.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah stood boldly on Mount Carmel, calling down fire from heaven and witnessing a great victory over the prophets of Baal. In 1 Kings 19 he is running for his life. The same prophet who stood courageously on the mountaintop is now hiding in the wilderness under a broom bush.