Eastern White Pine-Pinus strobus

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Pinus strobus is commonly called the Eastern White Pine, Northern White Pine, Weymouth Pine and Soft Pine. It is a large pine native to eastern North America and can reach a height of 150 - 210 feet. This tree features long, slender blue-green needles, sometimes reaching 5 inches in length, grown in bundles of 5 that are soft and flexible. Pinus strobus produces elongated brown cones that are 3 to 8 inches in length. Pine wood is medium-weight and relatively soft, offering good flexibility and strength. The wood is used for multiple interior finishes, such as interior trim, paneling and doors. It is also used for exterior finishes as well, like log siding and timber trusses. White Pine is known for being incredibly workable, even by hand. It is often used as construction lumber and for building boats. White Pine has been used for generations as a natural herbal remedy. Native Americans discovered that they could actually eat the inner bark and resins of White Pine and heal coughs, bronchitis and chest congestion.

Something to Ponder:

There were thirty of them when first planted. Evergreens of all sorts. They were planted in honor of the founding minister of this church – Tommy Paino and his wife and their thirty years of marriage. They were planted as the end of Tommy’s life was approaching – a life lived well, a marriage that stood the test of time, and in honor of his vision to put a church on the ground where you now stand.

You can count how many are still standing. Several are gone – broken by a storm or destroyed by disease. And yet others still stand tall, green throughout the four seasons, viable, healthy.

But the message is clear for all of us. Despite our apparent strength there will come a day when the next season in life will be too much to withstand, too much to bear, just…too much. As different as we are, it is one thing we all have in common.

For Christians, that then is the moment of our great peace and great joy. While the evergreens may last for a long time, longer than we are on this earth, it is our comfort that we are the living beings that have eternity awaiting. Death has already been conquered. That was Tommy Paino’s belief as his “needles fell to the ground” for the last time. It can be yours as well.