New Delhi, June 6 -- Thomas Merton's quote, "A tree gives glory to God by being a tree," is a deeply spiritual reflection on authenticity. The line is widely attributed to Merton's contemplative classic New Seeds of Contemplation, where he reflects on the idea that every created thing honours God by becoming fully itself. For modern readers, the quote offers a powerful lesson on self-acceptance, vocation, humility and the courage to stop imitating lives that were never meant for us.

"A tree gives glory to God by being a tree."- Thomas Merton

The fuller passage expands the idea by saying that a tree honours God by being what it was meant to be, and that the more a tree is like itself, the more fully it reflects its created purpose. The q...