Noland Trail-Jamie Englert

We had the opportunity in class to go to the Noland Trail together. This did not seem particularly significant to me because I had been there several times before but I was excited and looking forward to some new perspective. At first it was very frustrating to focus because of all the mosquitos that day but I was trying to take in everything around me and really appreciate it. One specific thing stuck out to me. While we had been going along, Dr. Redick was pointing out various trees and plants and giving details about them. He starting talking about this particularly plant called the “Devil’s Walking Stick.” This plant had sharp thorn like spikes all around the trunk and would obviously not be enjoyable to grab. Apparently when this plant blooms it is beautiful and resembles a palm tree with large, canopy leaves and no branches. However, it becomes distorted and ugly when a storm comes through and no longer is aesthetically pleasing.
I had written this fact down in my notebook but did not think much of it at the time. Later when going over my notes, I thought about this particular plant. Its name, “Devil’s Walking Stick,” was actually more appropriate than I realized at the time. It appears to be a beautiful plant but then turns into something ugly and obviously painful. In regards to Satan, he is known for doing something very similar. He tempts and lures people to things that seem to be attractive at first but these will eventually drive people away from God. The temptations he presents, in whatever form they may be, are intended to harm a person.