The Light in the Window
Pastor Jessie’s weekly thoughts on the life of faith
April 25, 2024
Sequoia National Park, April 2024
Then the trees of the forest will shout out joyfully
before the LORD, because he is coming
to establish justice on earth! (I Chronicles 16:33)
Dear Covenant Friends,
Nothing makes you feel quite so small as standing in the presence of a 250 ft sequoia tree that has been rooted in place for more than 1000 years. Or better yet, in a grove of trees whose roots are tangled together underground, quietly communicating below the surface, in a language of water and nutrients only they can understand.
Giant sequoias have survived a varied climate over the past two to three thousand years. Thick and fibrous sequoia bark typically protects the trees against significant damage from fire over their long lives. Fire also prepares the bare, mineral soil required by sequoia seeds for germination. It burns off undergrowth and trees that compete for the abundant sunlight young sequoias require.
We were not prepared for heavy snow when we visited the park, but we couldn’t turn down what might be a once in a lifetime chance to walk beneath these giants. Wearing socks on our hands for warmth, and good hiking boots, we took a cold and awe-inspiring 2-mile stroll and knew ourselves to be small and short-lived upon the earth.
Wherever you are, may you find reason to walk among the trees. And I hope you can join us for Creation Care Sunday worship on April 28.
Peace,
Pastor Jessie
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.”