I truly love the natural resources we have in wood.  Every piece is different and has its own characteristics.  Each has its own grain pattern, color, and even smell. Some woods are strong and can be made into beautiful furniture while others produce wonderful fruit and others just a shady spot to sit on a hot afternoon.
There is a sign at the entrance of a public park in Portugal that reads:
“Ye who would pass by and raise your hand against me, harken ere you harm me. I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights; the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun; and my fruits are refreshing droughts quenching your thirst as you journey on; I am the beam that holds your house, the board of your table, the bed on which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat. I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin. I am the gift of God and a friend of man”