We have a beautiful red maple tree (acer rubrum) in the back yard of the parsonage.  I just love this tree!  During my Forest Therapy training, we were invited to practice Sit Spot which I have shared with you in Thursday Thoughts before.  The invitation is simple—find a spot in nature and sit there for 20 minutes.  This mindfulness practice can deepen our connection to nature.  Our teachers advised us to pick a Sit Spot location close to home, even in our own back yard or front porch.  The key is to visit often and get to know one’s Sit Spot well by making this practice part of a routine.

Sometimes Hildy sits with me during Sit Spot amiably by my side.  Other times she seems annoyed by the attention I am paying to the lovely red maple (and not to her)!  So Hildy quite literally places herself between me and the tree (rather defiantly I must say). 

All of this to say, this particular red maple is a tree that I see every day. 
This is a tree that has even become part of my mindfulness practice. 
Though sometimes in life we see something without really taking it all in, you know? 

The shape of trees is telling.  In some ways, trees are examples of journeying toward the light.  Because trees need light to grow.  Sunlight gets captured by the tree’s leaves or needles and this initiates photosynthesis so that the tree gets nutrients to live.  Sunlight also provides energy to take carbon dioxide out of the air and water from the ground for trees to produce sugars for sustenance.  In Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees Leah Rampy explains, “Individual branches are strategic light-seekers as well.  When trees are growing in full light, one often sees bigger and longer branches on their southern sides, from where most light is coming.” (pg. 75)

Sure enough, this is the case with the red maple!  The bottom branch on the south side of the tree is huge!  The pictures don’t do it justice.  Neill trimmed some of the bottom branches to help with mowing the lawn, but decided to keep the biggest branch.  Partly because of the work it would have required with our handsaw to get through it and partly because it seemed like an important branch for the health of the tree somehow. 

It ends up that this branch is the perfect example of the red maple reaching for the light!
Sometimes we look, but don’t really see and understand in our lives. 
Perhaps this realization can lead to humility as there is still so much to learn. 
And if that is not spiritual wisdom, then I don’t know what is!   

Love,
Pastor Lauren

Photos by Rev. Lauren Ostrout.

Thursday Thoughts 5/8/25