Page 79 - To know things we have to have the world inside us

“The tree didn’t need anything! I was reminded of the worlds that circled the tree in Blyton's ‘The Faraway Tree’.

So I made fairies for the tree.”

“A gift to the tree caused me headaches…
and stress

I thought it silly, this gift
For a tree idea

Still I made a bird feeder
And it wasn’t easy

Although it looks simple.
When I finished my gift

I thought about it
Was it a gift for the tree?
Or for me? “My gift is to attract the tui to the tree when it is not in
flower...luring them with food...I thought about a bird feeder…
How do I see the tree?
I Googled - and was blown away by the huge variety.
My gift says it needs something.
I like the tea cup and saucer (Victorian style) ones…
Is that a true gift?
To say the tree is not complete?” But maybe the tree enjoys its downtime while the birds are
away...Maybe it looks forward to the quiet...Who am I to think
that the tree should offer a home to the tui [bird] all year

“What does it need? Yarn bombing?

But now I know that it’s resilient. . The yarn would have covered it up.

Are gifts an expression of need? Of desire? And what of the tangible and intangible nature of gifts?

This deep question resonates with similar questions we ask ourselves about our image of the child, our image of
the teacher, and our teaching. “What does it need? (The tree...? The child…?)

“I know it’s resilient.” (The tree…? The child…?)

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