Such pretty untouchable leaves!

Sprouting fresh bright red leaves that turn to a bright green in the spring, sporting dark green leaves in the summer, and dazzling with deep red leaves in the fall, this plant is a pleasant looking shrub or vine. Many people mistake the beautiful oak-like leaves to be growing on a young oak tree, but appearances can be deceiving…

Indeed, when visiting the redwoods, friends are often amazed at the “pretty vine” growing 50 plus feet up a redwood trunk. When I show them the plant up close, I always caution them to not touch the leaves OR any other part of the plant. I explain that poison oak is covered in an oil that causes most people to break out in a horrible, itchy rash that can take weeks to resolve and must be treated with special substances to break up the oil. As if that weren’t bad enough, burning poison oak can cause a life threatening allergic reaction!  Yes, Pacific Poison Oak is one dangerous plant! Interestingly enough, though, it is rich in nutrients that many wildlife species take advantage of with no adverse reaction!

As in life, things that draw our attention are not always good for us. We intrinsically know many things are dangerous and, most of the time, avoid them. Yet not everything is quite so obvious. The Bible is filled with admonitions of many activities to avoid as well as stories that illustrate the repercussions of not heeding the warnings. Those admonitions are not there to prevent us from having any fun in our lives, but to protect us and others from harm. Indeed, almost every religion on earth has some form of the Ten Commandments because people tend to do the very things that will hurt themselves and others.

So be careful as you walk through life. Hold tightly to God’s hand and look to His wisdom in your words and actions. Remember that our emotions may sometimes betray us, but God is always faithful and loving. And when walking in the woods, heed the old time saying “leaves of three, let them be”!