Forests and Faith

 

"I have come to the borders of sleep, 
The unfathomable deep Forest 
where all must lose 
Their way. 
The tall forest towers; Its cloudy foliage lowers Ahead, 
shelf above shelf; 
Its silence I hear & obey."

 Edward Thomas, Lights Out, 1917

 The Divine One created good trees
 so the children of earth might benefit from them...
...Awake, thornbush and myrtle,
 awake etrog and reed, awake willow and palm, 
awake fig and cedar, awake vine and oak, 
awake almond and terebinth, 
awake pomegranate and olive and apple.
 Awake (insert your own varieties).
 Awake, all trees in all the corners of the earth. 
 I awaken the trees in the name of the Tree of Life, 
for She is a tree of life to all who hold her fast.

 From the Prayer Over the Trees Rabbi Jill Hammer





Emily Carr

What would our Southern Ontario varieties be, or in any region, for that matter? We have planted a red oak, a pagoda dogwood, a heritage lilac, buckeye, eastern cedar and catalpa in our yard. Well, the catalpa is a midwestern species, but there are lots in these parts.

This is International Forests Day, and World Poetry Day so author Robert McFarlane tweeted the poem above, and I added the prayer for us to consider. For many of us, a walk in a woods or forest is akin to attending a poetry reading, whether we're in a stand of old growth giants or a neighbourhood park. 

 

Apart from the beauty of trees which lifts our spirits, we know that they are key to addressing climate change. The United Nations has undertaken the Trillion Tree Campaign which notes efforts around the globe to plant trees, as well as encouraging nations and individuals to join the project. As daunting as this may seem, biologist Diana Beresford Kroeger wants us to plant a native tree per year per person for the good of the planet. We might plant them ourselves, on our own property, or contribute to having one planted. 

This summer I will participate again in the Algonquin Park Ministry which is being re-imagined as an eco-faith experience of worship and contemplation. We are going to be connected with the Cathedral of the Trees ministry out of nearby Maynooth, and we'll adopt an eight-week "forest church" theme in this iconic park of magnificent pines where logging still takes place. Of course lumber and other forest products are a significant part of the Canadian economy, and our Boreal Forests are among the great forests of the Earth.

Perhaps you can intentionally ponder a tree today (there are two birches outside my study window), and maybe even hug one! 

Or, as a child of the Creator, you may choose to prayerfully support the tree-planting project in some form. Most municipalities provide this opportunity every Spring. 

Detail of "to live with respect in Creation"
United Church Creed booklet -- Gary Crawford, artist