AMONG THE TREES

Thanks to Susan C for this post including the picture.

This morning at Meeting for Worship in the Woods, in looking up at the trees, I was reminded of this poem by Mary Oliver, particularly the phrases of our having "come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine" speak to me. These woods and words are sacred. They have helped to save me during pandemic.

When I am Among the Trees

                                                by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It's simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”

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I am reminded of a song I heard long ago at summer camp: Green Cathedral.  The words are by Gordon Johnstone, the music by Carl Hahn.