Dear Editor,
People have asked me why I do it. I know it looks strange. So, I thought I had better explain it. With this confession you will know why.
It all began when I went to one of Halo’s community breakfasts at the Community Center which is offered by its volunteers on the second Saturday of every month. The proceeds go toward supporting the Center as well as other service organizations. The breakfast is country style and includes pancakes with real maple syrup, eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade apple sauce, apple or orange juice and coffee or tea. People bring homemade bread, muffins and pies. I like going there because it gives me a chance to mingle socially with members of my congregation as well as members of the community.
When I entered the Center, I saw Raphaela Martins sitting by herself. She is not a member of my Church, but I know her. She is a retired English teacher and often gives lectures on birds, particularly hummingbirds. I asked her if I could join her and she was happy to see me. We went to the buffet together and began enjoying our delicious meal.
“I’ve seen you several times standing with your back against the big tree on your property. Why do you do that?” I asked. She said that she couldn’t talk about it there but invited me to her house to discuss it. I told her that I could stop over on Monday, and we agreed to one o’clock.
As the Senior Pastor of The First Church of God’s Love in the bucolic farming hamlet of Halo, Pennsylvania, I often visit people in their homes. This was the first time I visited Raphaela. Knowing of her knowledge of birds I was not surprised to see quite a few Hummels on her mantel depicting scenes with birds. We sat at her dining room table where we had tea and homemade bundt cake.
“The Silver Maple in my front yard is one of the oldest trees in the county. It is very wise to have lived so long. Trees have wisdom. The Blue Spruce in the back garden lost about a third of its top. Maybe storms. But then over the years it grew a new one. The Hawthorn tree at the entrance broke off many branches on its right side during an ice storm. Now new growth is beginning to replace the missing ones. Trees have internal knowledge.”
“So, is that why you stand with your back against the Silver Maple?”
“I stand with my back firmly against the bark because it reduces stress. After a few minutes my mood improves, and I feel centered. I am totally present at that very moment. Mentally I feel that the wisdom of the tree is being shared with me.”
She went on to tell me that she also practices Tai Chi which is a Chinees martial art from the 12th Century. She learned it many years ago and does it several times a week in her home. She said that it is “meditation in motion. One works with the flow of Yin … softness and Yang … hardness. Yin is said to be the mother of Yang using soft power to create hard power.”
I thanked her for a wonderful visit. “Do you think you will stand next to a tree?” “Yes, I think I will.”
It took me over a week to find the time to do it or was it the courage. We have a big tree at the parsonage. Its trunk is about three feet wide. My neighbor told me that it’s Elm. At first, I was reluctant to place my back firmly against the trunk but then I thought of Raphaela and I did. It felt hard at first. But then my mind’s apprehension slowed, and I began to quiet. Then I felt calm. It’s strange but the word that I kept thinking was kindness. I wasn’t sure if it was Raphaela’s kindness or the tree’s. Maybe both.
Amen.
The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood
Senior Pastor
Executive Director
President
Chairman
Choir Master (part-time)
The First Church of God’s Love
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