Impacted by the wind, the sun, and the soil, the tree responds to its environment.
No tree, or abuser, is divorced from the circumstances of life. Those circumstances, however challenging, do not excuse the abuse.
The tree stands tall: it is resilient despite the obstacles it faces from the climate.
The tree’s strength reminds us that it is possible to overcome even the harshest of circumstances.Abusers must learn to take responsibility for their own actionsand change their behaviour.
A red streak winds itself around the trunk of the tree. Many of thetender leaves attached to the branches show evidence of a reddish hue.
Violence is learned behaviour: children bear the marks of abuse just as the leaves bear the streak of red that winds itself around the tree.
The sun and the moon provide a backdrop for the viewing of the tree.
Abusers strike when the sun is shining and when it has set. They instill fear day and night.
Some of the tree’s roots are already dead. Yet, under the ground, there is a split kernel, and a tiny sliver of green.
There is always hope for change. The cycle can be broken.
Want to learn more about those who act abusively? We invite you to consult our book, Men Who Batter.