Real Scott

I have been told that I sometimes I take my metaphors too literally.

A couple of years ago I was listening to Denis Waitley speak and he was telling a a story about his older neighbor planting a shade tree that he would never feel the shade from.

I found this to be a most profound story about our disposable ‘instant gratification’ society. There is a definite need to act in ways that will improve life in the future, even if we never experience the results of our labor. Those that come after us can appreciate our labor… our legacies to them.

Enter project Mo. You see Mo is a Mighty Oak tree currently trapped in the guise of a potted plant. After hearing the Waitley story I planted an acorn that I then named Mo. It was a great lesson for me not to see things as they are but for seeing them for the potential for what they can be.

You see I have a vision for Mo. Although he currently only stands 5′ 8” one day he will be a nice shade tree. Birds will nest in him and children may climb him. I was quite the tree climber when I was kid. Perhaps a tire swing will hang from one of his lower limbs.

I nurtured and watered Mo and have transplanted him to the biggest pot I could find. The other day I went to move him and he had put a tap root down through the bottom of the pot.

The investment property I planned to move him too didn’t work out and I need someplace to plant him. My yard has too many large oaks already and there is no room for him to grow.

If you know of a nice sunny spot that we can plant him where no one will cut him down…. a place where he can grow to his full potential please let me know.

Remember to plant shade trees for others that you might not ever see the fruit of.