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wishing tree

wishing tree

Spirituality

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There are things I like about this tree. It is in the middle of a one-way roundabout that gives access to the local 9-hole public course, but that isn't what I mean. This is a rural western conservative christian locale, and that is why I'm surprised.

It's not much of a tree, I guess. Stunted, with some sort of berry I don't think we should eat. But it is labeled as a wishing tree. The neighborhood has two elementary schools, a junior high, an alternative school, an explosively growing college, some retirement communities and a lot of homeless people. Just a few blocks from a thriving downtown and a growing industrial strip, and of course dozens of little churches and some big ones too.

And people toss wishes, all sorts of people and all day long. It isn't about the tree.


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Do you suppose that people are thinking the tree is magic and will grant wishes?

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Originally posted by @apathist
Do you suppose that people are thinking the tree is magic and will grant wishes?
No different sir than people making a wish before blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. Few I suspect believe such an action will cause the wish to come true. Just a piece of transitory fun.

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Originally posted by @apathist
Do you suppose that people are thinking the tree is magic and will grant wishes?
People want to believe.

If Religion is the opium of the people, wishing wells and such are their E.

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Originally posted by @wolfgang59
People want to believe.
...
You are getting close. Listen! NONE of the people believe the tree is magic.

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Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
No different sir than people making a wish before blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. Few I suspect believe such an action will cause the wish to come true. Just a piece of transitory fun.
Yes! But this isn't about hope versus faith. It isn't about fun either. It is about the power of human intention.

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Your jesus is a wishing tree. Kinda tainted though, since you don't give appropriate credit. The wishing tree doesn't solve our problems, and jesus doesn't solve them either. We solve them.

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No one believes in the tree. Well, maybe everyone does.

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Are you people embarrassed because you make wishes? All whistling and avoiding eye contact.

It helps to have sense of humor, I guess.