Trees Are Ancient And Wise Beings

“Trees are ancient and wise beings, deserving of our respect and admiration. They hold the secrets of the universe and offer us a glimpse into the hidden realms of life.” (The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohllenben)

In our first reading from Hosea today, we hear that the person who follows God’s ways “shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth shoots.” Furthermore, their “splendor shall be like the olive tree and [they will have a] fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.”

Time and time again through the scriptures, those who follow in God’s ways are described in tree metaphors. 

As Wollenben says above and speaks to beautifully in his book, The Hidden Life of Trees, “trees are ancient and wise beings,” and I think that they can be our teachers in the faith.

In the gospel today, Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is. He says to his listeners, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…[and the second is this] You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He goes on to say that “there is no commandment greater than these.”

When I think about trees, I can’t help but think of them as loving God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. They, like all of nature, cannot seem to do otherwise.

So many indigenous people’s around the world view trees as sacred guides as to how to be in relationship to the divine and see them as ancient relatives who could teach us the wisdom we need.

Towards this end, I think about what we are learning about tree communities from people like Wohllenben – especially in light of what Jesus identifies as the second part of the great commandment (love your neighbor as yourself). Wohllenben, who has studied trees intensively for many decades, has discovered that trees are quite attuned to being each other’s keeper. He says, 

“When trees grow together, nutrients and water can be optimally divided among them all so that each tree can grow into the best tree it can be…The trees in a forest care for each other, sometimes even going so far as to nourish the stump of a felled tree for centuries after it was cut down by feeding it sugars and other nutrients, and so keeping it alive. 

But why are trees such social beings? Why do they share food with their own species and sometimes even go so far as to nourish their competitors? The reasons are the same as for human communities: there are advantages to working together. Every tree, therefore, is valuable to the community and worth keeping around for as long as possible. And that is why even sick individuals are supported and nourished until they recover. Next time, perhaps it will be the other way round, and the supporting tree might be the one in need of assistance…they look after their own, and they help their sick and weak back up onto their feet. They are even reluctant to abandon their dead.”

Richard Rohr reminds us of the teachings of both Anthony of the Desert and Thomas Aquinas who say that nature is the first scripture that we encounter. The bible only appears much later. Yet Christianity has focused on the latter and basically ignored the former.  He goes on to say that, “We did not honor and learn from the first and primary Bible of creation, so how would we know how to honor and properly use the second Bible…We must know that creation is our first and final cathedral. Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing, as many of the Psalms say. If you are drawn to “kneel” in this cathedral, you can always talk to a Mystery that is so much larger than yourself. It takes no theology classes whatsoever, no proofs, or arguments. Aweism is the one true religion. All the other native and historical religions merely build upon this primal awe that bows before everything.”

For today, go outside if you are able. Engage a tree. Practice “aweism.” Let the tree speak to you of God. Thank this tree for its role in your life and in the life of the world. Let it speak to you of the good news. Then, and only then if there’s still time, go and read a few bible passages!

Note: To see a trailer for the movie The Hidden Life of Trees (available on Amazon Prime and on other streaming platforms) click here. Once you have read his book or seen the film, you won’t look at trees the same again…