Some years ago, the thought seized me, that before we were people, we were trees. In my deepest knowing and from out of the blue, I knew this in my bones to be true then, as it is now. Don’t we often refer to our body as our “trunk” and extremities as our “limbs”? Maybe my toes are remnants of roots cut off? That is what I sometimes imagine.
My imagination tells me that in our more primitive lives we freely danced and roamed about as trees. Trees were not rooted in one property. Somehow, they lost almost total mobility. Did that happen because of getting attached to one property, like some of us today? Eventually, they formed a community of trees or woods, that to this day do not discriminate, but welcomes all, birds, squirrels, other animals, insects, vines, and maybe even poison ivy. They all live together in harmony and are in many ways, light years ahead (of the educated, scientific, research-focused homosapians), in their evolution and relationship to each other, earth, and the Divine.
Today when I see and feel the wind, or gentle breeze rustle through shiny green leaves, on thin stems, I feel the trees clapping. They are clapping upon seeing me and for me. They want to awaken me to be more inclusive and embracing relationships with all people without discrimination. I think also they might scold me for a less than generous response, to cleaning up the environment I am partly responsible for polluting. Meanwhile, trees, rooted almost everywhere on the planet, given their own unique personality, unselfishly commit to creating shade every day, which is especially appreciated when it is excessively hot outside.
Perhaps the millions and millions of trees that grow in the Amazon region of Peru, need to have protection such as the legal status given to the Whanganui River in New Zealand in 2017. That river forever considered sacred by the aboriginal people now is legally recognized as having, all rights and privileges of the human person. Soon the government will recognize a mountain as a legal person as well. As for water, it is essential to life, yes, but trees manufacture oxygen, a vital factor essential for every cell and molecule in my body, dogs, cats, etc., etc. I find it all a staggering, complex, and sacred concept to comprehend. We people are so blest, so small, and all is a gift.
Now I ask, what might it be like if our churches, places of worship and leadership, stretched their boundaries to integrate in new ways, something of the sacredness of earth reality into our Sunday rituals? The Encyclical Letter, “On Care of Our Common Home” Laudato Si, written by Pope Francis would contribute enormously to study and a collective effort for personal reflection and sharing. That would enhance our efforts to broaden our awareness and live and act in right and responsible relationship in “our common home”. Excellent resources for Laudato Si such as YouTube videos are available free on the Internet. It would be wonderful to think that our experience of chaos with Covid 19 would open new patterns of enlightenment and problem solving around serious environmental issues for our planet.
-Sister Patricia St. Louis
