A Coffee Tree Christmas
The Liberica coffee tree has been growing steadily at the back of the Mountain temple. It just so happened that it is now in full bloom, just 1 day before Christmas. The air is filled with such an amazing perfume… it is intoxicating! The carpenter and stingless bees are very busy with harvesting the pollen. This is a fleeting and ephemeral event that lasts for just 1-2 days!
The scene is like a page from the children’s book that Penny Reyes, the founder of Kalipay Wellness wrote, way back in 2001. The story is about a young girl who can speak to trees. She wondered aloud and asked a male tree a question – “What makes a tree, a Christmas tree?”.
Below is a caption from the story, “My Christmas Tree”.
“ Please, mister tree, please tell me.
What makes a tree a Christmas tree?
Is it the pretty trinkets and colourful balls
That hang from its branches and all over our walls?
Mister Tree replied, go to sister tree.
Run over the hill and you will see.
Her beauty she can’t hide, with flowers on her hair
And a scent, so sweet, no trinket can compare. “
– by Penny Reyes
This timeless message is the inspiration for our Season’s Greetings.
Nature provides the best gift of all —- a living tree is indeed, the best Christmas tree.