Tree

In "Faith in a Tree," the author uses the tree in which Faith is perched in the park, to symbolize perspective. Though Faith has gone to the park to be with her boys and her friends, she remains in the tree for the majority of the afternoon. Ultimately the tree grants her a renewed understanding of her life, and her relationships. She realizes that she must distance herself from the petty dramas of the playground, and think more deeply about national and global affairs.

Running

In "The Long-Distance Runner," Faith's new habit of running symbolizes renewal. When Faith first takes up running, she has little intent behind it. However, by the end of the story, she realizes that running through her city has put her in contact with the places of her past, and granted her a new, uninhibited and childlike manner of seeing the present...