Today's Quotations – LAUGHTER:

Central America

An example of mutualism

"The ant and the acacia tree" – it sounds like the title of a parable. In many ways it is. Perhaps we, as humans, can learn how to get along better with each other from examples God gives us in nature. Examples of symbiosis and mutualism are found throughout the world. This relationship, whereby two partners work actively to benefit each other, is more prevalent in the tropics. In the jungle, life is difficult and dangerous. The advantage provided by mutualism can make the difference between survival and extinction.

One example of mutualism from tropical Central America is that of the ant acacia tree. This tree is common along the Pacific coast of Central America. Ant acacias have feathery leaves and branches. They are also armed with wicked inch-long thorns. Within the bases of these protective thorns dwell small but aggressive ants. The ants are attracted to the tree by the presence of tiny nectaries. These glands on the leaf stems exude sugar -- an important food of the adult ant. The ant is also attracted to the acacia by swellings on the leaf tips that are a source of proteins, lipids, and vitamins. These leaf swellings are a food source for the the ant larvae. It is easy to see how the ant benefits from the food and protection of the acacia tree.

This cooperation of the ant with the ant acacia tree is mutualistic. The tree also benefits. The tree receives the benefit of the ants as "bodyguards." The ant acacia requires much sunlight, but it is a poor competitor in this race for the light. Other trees are much faster growing and easily overshadow the ant acacia. The tree's leaves contain no toxins to protect it from its predators. Without the ant it is weak and defenseless against the denizens of the jungle. The feisty, belligerent ant functions as the protector of the tree. The ants will attack any predator, from a cow to a leaf-cutting insect, that touches the tree. If a vine threatens to envelope the tree cutting off its supply of sunlight, the ants will cut down the vine. If a branch from an adjacent tree stretches too close to shade the acacia, the ants will prune back the branch of the offender. If the seeds of other plants fall to the ground beneath the ant acacia, the ants will carry away the seeds before they sprout.

This is one of a great number of mutual relationships that can be observed in the jungles of Central America.

Monday another example of mutualism - though not necessarily from the tropics

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Joseph Addison

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Picture Deductive Reasoning

Sherlock Holmes and Watson were on a camping and hiking trip. They had gone to bed and were lying there looking up at the sky.

Holmes said, "Watson, look up. What do you see?

"Well, I see thousands of stars."

"And what does that mean to you?"

"Well, I suppose it means that of all the planets and suns and moons in the universe, that we are truly the one most blessed with the reason to deduce theorems to make our way in this world of criminal enterprises and blind greed. It means that we are truly small in the eyes of God but struggle each day to be worthy of the senses and spirit we have been blessed with. And, I suppose, at the very least, in the meteorological sense, it means that it is most likely that we will have another nice day tomorrow. What does it mean to you, Holmes?"

"To me, it means someone has stolen our tent."

Kasha Linka

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Play Something He Doesn't Know

Little Harold was practicing the violin in the living room while his father was trying to read in the den. The family dog was lying in the den, and as the screeching sounds of little Harold's violin reached his ears, he began to howl loudly. The father listened to the dog and the violin as long as he could. Then he jumped up, slammed his paper to the floor and yelled above the noise, "For pity's sake, can't you play something the dog doesn't know?"

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"Dad," said Little Johnny, "I'm late for football practice. Would you please do my homework for me?"

Little Johnny's father said irately, "Son, it just wouldn't be right."

"That's okay," replied Little Johnny "At least you will try, right?"

AdamsCathy@aol.com

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Being punctual in our Office was of no benefit what-so-ever.

There was never anybody around to appreciate it.

AdamsCathy@aol.com

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TEACHER: Didn't you promise to behave?

LITTLE JOHNNY: Yes, sir.

TEACHER: And didn't I promise to punish you if you didn't?

LITTLE JOHNNY: Yes, sir, but since I broke my promise, you didn't have to keep yours....

AdamsCathy@aol.com

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TRUE FACT ...

Humans begin laughing at two to three months of age. Six year olds laugh about 300 times per day, while adults laugh from 15 to 100 times per day.

SOURCE: NYT, Dr. William F. Fry, Stanford University

I attribute my old age to having lived a long time.
Most people who do this are older than those who do not.

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~ Three Trees ~

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With swoops of his shining axe, the first tree fell.

"Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With swoops of his shining axe, the second tree fell.

"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.

But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.

But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.

"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." she said.

And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.

And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong.

And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.