Trees
TREES
a prayer to open
Awaken my senses to you, Lord.
Clear all distractions that rob me of your presence.
Remind me that you are the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
And may my heart be filled with wonder. Amen.
Movement #1
Go outside and find a place where you can stop and examine a tree, whether it’s in full blossom, beginning to change colors, bare for the winter, or springing to life. For about a minute, fix your gaze on one part of that tree.
- What colors, shapes, and textures do you see? What do you smell as you breathe deeply? What do you hear around you as you stand still?
- What emotions are stirred in you as you gaze at that particular part of the tree?
Movement #2
Now allow your eyes to take in the entire tree, noticing how the part you initially focused on fits into or compares to the whole. Reflect on the entire tree for a moment.
- What is wondrous about this tree that stands before you today?
- What does focusing on this tree lead you to pray? What do you want to say to God, the Creator?
I will sing to you, Lord, as long as I live. I will praise you to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to you, for I rejoice in you, Lord, the Creator.
a What I know for sure is that God’s glorious and intricate creation does not impose itself on us very often. Sure, there is the harvest moon that practically takes your breath away as it floats at the horizon. Autumn trees showing off their dazzling reds might as well yell out for attention as you pass. But for the most part, nature is subtle and quiet, waiting for us to come out and wander around. Creation beckons us, but only as a whisper or a soft lullaby. There is just so much to see and take in, from the veins running along the smallest leaf to the bees hovering above blossoms in the sun to complex root systems of countless trees finding their way to drink and be nourished. It is a feast for the soul and the senses. Even the invisible can stop us in our tracks—consider the wind and the smell of pine trees or the briny ocean.
From the book
