I believe that trees are holy. They remind us of God. When I studied at Stellenbosch I daily visited the university's botanical garden. In the garden they had Olive trees that were grown from cuttings of the Olive trees from the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent his last night praying before his death. Praying under those trees I imagined myself being deeply rooted to the night his friends betrayed him and He died for them and also for me. I have a friend that can really go deep when it comes to trees. Also a fellow Joburger, he grew up in the city with most trees in the world. Johannesburg is truly a manmade forest. My friend's name is Jan. A very Afrikaner name, although Jan is not your typical Afrikaner. (add your own stereotype here) Every now and then we will share a glass of wine and Jan will light his pipe. Most of the time we speak of trees. At every conversation he reminds me of how old trees are. Long before man, trees were. One of his favourite