If Trees Had Souls

If God had given trees souls, I don't think their souls would be found in the loveliness of their spring flowers and budding leaves, or even in the magnificent glory of their colorful fall foliage. If, indeed, trees had souls, I think they would be found in their roots -- the roots that anchor them to the earth and keep them straight and nurture them as they grow.

I love taking pictures of trees, and have discovered that sometimes the twisted and tangled roots of a tree are more interesting and just as beautiful as its flowers and foliage. Here are a few pictures from my collection which, I think, illustrate this perfectly.

Tangled roots of an old magnolia tree located on the grounds of the Old Court House Museum in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

More magnolia roots ...

I captured these huge roots of an old oak tree in an antebellum neighborhood in Natchez, Mississippi.

I found these moss-covered roots on the side of a road in Vicksburg.

The roots of this old magnolia tree, located in the National Cemetery inside the Vicksburg National Military Park, embrace grave markers of soldiers who died during the Siege of Vicksburg.

I love the roots of this magnificent Gingko tree, also located in the cemetery of the Military Park. The tree is approximately 240 years old, based on the size of its trunk.

This picture, which was taken during winter, gives us a glimpse of what the roots of a tree look like underground. It amazes me that trees can live with their roots exposed like that, but those are, indeed, alive and struggling to hold on to their tentative grasp of the soil crumbing around them.

After looking at these pictures, perhaps you can understand why I say, "If trees had souls, you could find them in their roots."