Nature continues to inspire us, as a life force of peace and beauty!

Trees have been an important part of my life from my beginnings and during the pandemic they provided a welcomed presence and peace that I had not ever experienced in quite that way. I was raised in the hills of rural Ohio among many different kinds of trees. I have climbed them, eaten their fruit, hiked and walked among them, watched their autumn and spring transformations, enjoyed their dormant beauty in winter, day dreamed under them, inhaled their fragrance, marveled at the grandeur of so many, been thankful for their cool, shady canopy, and am very grateful for their life giving function of “breathing in” carbon and “breathing out” oxygen for the survival and well-being of all living things. 

Research has shown and continues to reveal just how amazing trees are. Among other things, trees communicate underground through fungi. These play an extremely important role in tree health and survival, and also in the soil biology and chemistry surrounding them. Fungi contribute to a vital support system, a life giving community, for all trees and especially young ones. To know more, and there is so much more, Suzanne Simard relates her lifelong love of and important research on trees in her national bestseller titled, Finding the Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.

 And then there’s the Heart Math Institute in Boulder, Colorado, where research on the energetic life of trees is beginning in an effort to explain the feelings of calm and well-being we experience when we spend time in their presence. We come away feeling less stressed and more centered. Researchers at Heart Math want to know why and how this happens. Fascinating stuff! 

 And then there’s the happy fact that trees inspire writers and poets. My favorite tree poem is by Wendell Berry, titled “I Go Among Trees”. It can be found in his poetry collection titled This Day, Collected and New Sabbath Poems. It can also be found online. The Simard book, the Heart Math Institute and the Berry poetry collection are referenced in the show notes. 

 I want to share the poem with you now and invite you to engage with it in a kind of lectio divina. Though usually associated with scripture, lectio divina can be used with any inspirational writing. So, we will use it with this poem.

 Let’s begin by taking three deep breaths allowing the exhale to be longer than the inhale. Consciously relax your body and bring yourself fully into the present moment. 

 With the first reading, listen to become acquainted with it. Let the words sink into your being, body, mind and spirit. 

 In the second reading, become aware of images the words create. What images come to you as you hear the words? 

 In the third reading, become aware of the feelings and sensations the words and cadence stimulate in you, paying attention to your body’s reactions. 

 As we complete the readings, you might want to write about your experience, the images and feelings that came to you. Allow time to explore the effects of the words as a kind of meditation.  

 Genesis 2:8a and 9 reads, “Then God planted a garden in Eden... God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat.” This is an understatement given what we are learning about just how important trees are to life on this planet! May we give thanks for the life force they share with us.