1.0Food and Faithhttps://centernet.pcusa.org/food-faithAndrew Kang Bartletthttps://centernet.pcusa.org/food-faith/author/andrewkangbartlett/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="KrZctgM6xu"><a href="https://centernet.pcusa.org/food-faith/2010/12/20/the-christmas-tree-conundrum/">The Christmas Tree Conundrum</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://centernet.pcusa.org/food-faith/2010/12/20/the-christmas-tree-conundrum/embed/#?secret=KrZctgM6xu" width="600" height="338" title="“The Christmas Tree Conundrum” — Food and Faith" data-secret="KrZctgM6xu" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> The first winter I was out of college, living in an apartment on my own, I did what I thought was the environmentally responsible thing, and ran out to buy an artificial Christmas tree. I convinced my parents to do the same thing. “How can we cut down all these trees?” was my main argument. However, over the years since then, I have heard another side of the debate, which has many more facts attached to it than my gut-reaction to Christmas trees. This morning, NPR had an interesting story about environmental issues attached to Christmas trees. You can listen to the story here. via presbyterian.typepad.com I'm still debating whether to get a Christmas tree or not. I just put up a string of lights in our dining room, so that just maybe clinch it. No tree. For several years, my boss would give me one of those miniature cedars wrapped in shiny red foil. They always died. But one finally survived, so I planted it in our yard and it grew like a weed on manure. Three years later, I chopped it down for the tallest tree we've ever had. (they are so darn expensive!) But, this year, unless my teenagers rebel (you know, they just don't make teenagers as rebellious as they used to...), no tree for us. What's the Christmas tree all about anyway?! Here are some reflections from Katie Holmes on the Christmas tree conundrum. Enjoy.