Last Sunday Audra began her talk saying that she didn’t have any jokes. Martha Mitchel shouted out “Good!” Y’all know that I value feedback, and I wonder if maybe I went too far. Like Billy Joel I don’t know why I go to extremes. Perhaps I descended too far into the swamp of bad jokes. And you might not believe how many really really bad jokes I go through before I can find any that are what I consider good enough for you. What do you mean, you question my judgment?!
You might have figured out that I use jokes to soften you up before I march into the theological battlefield for your souls. You don’t know what I’m talking about? Ok I try to get you to let your guard down, and then I serve up really challenging theological questions. You still don’t know what I’m talking about?
Well our task today- celebrating trees is neither heavy nor controversial. So for today I’ll skip the dad jokes. Honesty, the internet search for jokes on this week’s topic yielded an all time low of zero joke. Not one made me laugh at all.
As far as I’m concerned we’ve already celebrated trees adequately. I’m tempted to declare us victorious and take a victory lap. But I’ll just cruise around the forest to see if there’s a cherry o this pie.
Once again this UU service has promoted the idea that there are many paths up the holy mountain. So of course, there are many ways to celebrate trees.
Why celebrate trees anyway? And what makes this a religious endeavor? This sermon will offer some answers. One great thing about UU tradition is that we find all kinds of ways to develop our faith and spirituality. And we don’t have to prove the impossible or claim the supernatural to experience a deep sense of holiness, reverence, meaning and purpose.
Last year I led a service where I shared with you the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of trees. You will remember that Tu B’Shevat is a celebration of the harvest of first fruits and nuts of the year in the holy land written in Torah. People seemed to enjoy it, but I thought “Wait! With like one exception, you my beloved are goyim, gentiles, non Jews. Why limit you to a Jewish celebration of trees? Plus to go deeper in practice of UU tradition, we must go beyond initial exploration of foreign traditions or revisitation of own culture’s traditions, to ask ourselves, what have I found here that I need to continue for my own integrity and spiritual growth? We are privileged with incredible freedom. Many of us walked way completely from religion. We are people who are adamant that there are things from the past that dignity, integrity, love and justice demand that we not continue. AND being UU means realizing that most religious cultures do get some things right. Every culture though imperfect also possesses precious truths, and spiritual wisdom. Our journey requires us to do our own work. Also to share and learn from each other as we continue.
Often, as with the idea for a celebration of trees, I’m sure of the worth of the task, and I have little idea at first what the course will be. I have faith in the power of curiosity, and I trust my hunches. For the first time four different people approached me presumably with cherished items for this chalice table, which I think of as an altar. I took it as a sign that UUs love trees, that we have experienced something meaningful, transformative and sacred in their presence.
How many of you have ever had an experience of trees or a tree that you would call spiritual, religious, mystical, a peak experience or deeply meaningful in a way that brushed you up against something beyond words? If you are willing, raise your hands.
As UUs we would never say that there is only one right way to be religious, to reach the mountaintop so to speak. Today we have but made a start of the many wayw to celebrate trees. And not all celebrations must fit a Sunday service. Literature is well represented with mention of couples who experienced blessed union underneath a tree. Going a different direction, UUs hold super high regard of formal education and scientific research. Do you have a granddaughter that wants a path to god or enlightenment? Encourage her to pursue an education or do research of trees!
But now I want to tune in and promote what might be the most underrated ritual and spiritual practice in America. You know that I have years experience on volunteer staff at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Many volunteers have festival nicknames. In town I am the reverend Phillip Schulman. On the Quiet Valley Ranch, I am “Treehugger.”
So let me tell you about this ritual practice. The evidence is in! Science has made it perfectly clear that it makes great sense to hug trees. 1- Just spending time around trees lowers cortisol, slows heart rate, and boosts feelings of calm and connection. 2- Trees release phytoncides, natural, airborne compounds. This is like the opposite of how proximity to a contagious person can get us sick. Get close to a tree. Breathe in the phytoncides. It will strengthen your immune system. 3- Trees emit electromagnetic frequencies and these seem to influence our own bioelectrical systems. Brian Wilson was right. When we hug or get close to a tree, we are picking up “good vibrations.” 5- Of course there’s good old photosynthesis going on. Trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Trees literally give us air to breath.
Yes we problem need to talk about allergies to pollen, but not today!
Tree hugging:
lowers blood pressure
Increases our ability to focus,
accelerates recovery from surgery or illness
increases energy levels
improves sleep
Hugging a tree is a quick way to slow down. It’s a straight path to stillness. It creates observable effects on our mental state. That reduction of cortisol means reduced stress, and a cascade of positive effect.
Tree hugging is also a premium form of communion. It’s a ritual. Doing it repeatedly increases the effects. Do it with UU spirituality. Grow your awareness of being part of the interconnected web of existence.
Hugging a tree is also a practice in mindfulness. You become aware that trees have distinct scents from their bark, leaves, and sap. Stimulation of your olfactory system, activates memory and emotion leading to recovery and wellness. Tree Hugging is the premium package for peace, intelligence and wellness.
Here are your step by step instructions
- Go to a forest or to a tree in your yard, neighborhood, or on the edge of town, at UBarU or other sacred site
- Pick a tree or better yet let a tree pick you. Don’t stress over the selection. You will have chances to hug many other trees. And the trees won’t get jealous. They appreciate that there are humans wise enough to appreciate their kind.
- Once selected, look at your tree. Scan it. Notice things about it; its height, width, color, shape, textures. Realize that the tree before you is unique. There is not another one exactly like anywhere. Just like you.
- Pause and stand before this tree. Beyond material observations, begin to allow yourself to have a felt sense of the tree.
- Allow yourself to feel whatever you feel. Allow your thoughts to be what they are. If you feel uncomfortable, silly, or self-conscious, allow it. It’s not a big deal.
- If you are not ready or willing to give a full hug, you can touch the tree. Touch counts. Touch definitely counts.
- If you are ready, put your arms all the way around the tree. Slowly allow yourself to bring more of your body into contact with the tree. You can hug gently. You can squeeze hard. You can be reverent. You can be playful. You can laugh. You can cry. You can feel grateful. You can feel whatever you feel.
- You can add to and personalize your ritual any way you want. Say a prayer. Whisper intimately. Find stillness and silence. Sing if the spirit says sing.
- Stay a while. Stay as long as you choose. Keep practicing mindfulness.
- When you are ready for the hug to end, pause. You can talk to the tree. You can pray. You can say good bye or simply say “Thank you”.
We are blessed by our appreciation of trees. We will continue to reflect with awe and wonder to consider that we share this Earth with trees. They are kin, ancestors and we want them to be here for our grandchildren. May we be blessed to get to know trees and to sense in them, Great Mystery. We are connected to them, to each other and all of existence. Like trees living in a forest, we will communicate with each other. Our being and theirs proclaims dignity and worth.
Blessed of all creation, help us to be like trees with roots deep in Earth, and branches reaching toward the light. Help us to remember the strength of our being, and connection to beauty, wisdom and power greater than us. Life force moves in us and through us, blessing all. Ashe’ and Amen!
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