The Tree and Termites

The Tree and Termites.

Yesterday my roommate and I got out the chainsaw and began to cut down a damaged tree in the front yard. Termites had eaten out the middle of the major trunk and limbs. The tree was in rough shape and we decided cutting it down was best.

So I was holding the chainsaw. The electric type on a pole. Cutting away at a pretty good size branch. As I was cutting through the limb, hundreds of black termites we're swarming out of the newly exposed hole. Soon the large branch came crashing down. I would think that they would all be trying to escape the fallen limb. But what they did instead was come crawling out of the holes in the fallen limb then turn around and hurry back into the branch. The large branch lay on the ground for some time. I wanted to give them time to leave the branch. Eventually that day I cut it up into smaller chunks to be used for firewood.

Today my roommate and I gathered some of those damaged limbs. Actually my roommate picked up the logs because I didn't like the bugs. He carried the logs using the wheelbarrow to the back yard near the fire pit. We started the fire and when it got going well enough he tossed in a couple of the logs.

The new logs caught on fire and smoke came rolling out of all the holes and tunnels the termites had created. Soon I could see dozens of termites coming out of the holes. They looked around and went back inside their smoke-filled house. There was opportunity near the edge of the fire for them to jump out to safety. But not one did. All of them went back into the log.

Made me think about human nature. I guess we are not much different then our insect friends. And I use that term friends loosely when it comes to insects and bugs and lizards and other crawly things. I guess it's the girl inside me. Bugs creep me out.

Anyway you would think if you experienced a chainsaw ripping apart your home. And your whole house came crashing down. If you've found yourself on the ground and your house is no longer attached to the tree. You would run away or at least go back to the tree. You would think after a day to think about this. Time maybe to hold community meetings. You would realize you should look for a new house, a new neighborhood or someplace safe. And later the next day, if your damaged home was on fire and filled with smoke you would make an attempt to escape. Not just look around and go back inside.

I know of people who have gone through similar experiences. Maybe not falling out of a tree. But experienced a dangerous neighborhood, a dangerous relationship or worse and never attempted to escape. Instead they ignore the danger. They either convince themselves it is not that bad. Or maybe it’s their fate. Or maybe someone will come and rescue them. Maybe pick them up put and them back in the tree.

Anyway I have wondered many times why some people would put up with terrible things and never try to leave. Now I just wonder if it is just part of human nature or nature in general to accept fate. Maybe it takes something different. A different understanding or something outside natural that wakes us up and tells us we should run. That we are in danger. But that kind thinking is real similar to the people in danger waiting for a savior.

The more I think about it, watching those termites who had the opportunity to escape many times. Maybe it was just an  issue involving their vision. You see termites live in darkness. It was too bright for them to see clearly the escape route. Or maybe they were afraid of the light more than the smoke-filled dark.

I know my rambling certainly did not clarify why people in danger don't attempt to escape. Certainly watching the termites and my writing my thoughts has caused me to ponder my own life. Many times I have been in a bad situation even though I knew better. 

I am thinking out loud here. Maybe its due to living in darkness and not really understanding what it is like to live in a world full of light, love and hope. Many of us are living in darkness, fear, worry and low to no self esteem. Maybe it’s about time to adjust to living in a lighted world. 

Author Rachel Love