Dear Covenant Family,
During my recent study leave, I met a vibrant woman who leads hikes at the ranch.
Susan J. Tweit described herself as a plant botanist and seemed to know everything about the flora and fauna of the high desert. I felt like a child under her tutelage on a long hike around the lake. She showed us dried up moss that greened up with just a few drops of water and explained how sagebrush has an underground communication system responsive to changes in weather and environment. I heard her stories of restoring habitats in Yellowstone National Park and other wild places, inspired by what she calls terraphilia, our species’ inborn love of the Earth and the planet’s web of lives. She helped us spot bighorn sheep and pointed out petroglyphs left by indigenous people long ago, who treated the land and waters we so enjoyed as a sacred place of prayer. Part of her ranch responsibilities including determining just the right time for the horses to graze, when the native prairie grass was ready. A few days later we were treated to the sight of wandering horses who returned to the corral each morning satisfied with the night’s’ feeding, satiated on freedom.
Susan is also the author of several books, including a recent award-winning memoir called Bless the Birds: Living with Love in a Time of Dying. Her beautiful and humor-laced writing relates the inspiring story of the life she shared with her late husband, who ultimately died of a brain tumor, but only after they took one final trip together revisiting all the places they loved. She writes:
Time in nature heals. That shouldn’t surprise us since the living community that inspires our terraphilia is also our species’ natal home. Research confirms the beneficial effects of “vitamin N”: lower blood pressure and heart rates, reduced production of the stress hormone cortisol, improved mood (nature even alleviates depression), faster and more complete healing, and increased ability to focus and learn. No wonder I run off to wild country in difficult times. Time out from the busyness of the human world reweaves us, body, mind, and spirit. (51)
Our spiritual ancestors also shared a love for the earth and a recognition of the interconnectedness of all God’s creatures. A few verses of Psalm 65 lift up these themes and the whole psalm is a beautiful one on which to meditate.
God of Zion, to you even silence is praise.
Promises made to you are kept—
you listen to prayer—
and all living things come to you...
You visit the earth and make it abundant,
enriching it greatly
by God’s stream, full of water.
You provide people with grain
because that is what you’ve decided.
Drenching the earth’s furrows,
leveling its ridges,
you soften it with rain showers;
you bless its growth.
You crown the year with your goodness;
your paths overflow with rich food.
Even the desert pastures drip with it,
and the hills are dressed in pure joy.
The meadowlands are covered with flocks,
the valleys decked out in grain—
they shout for joy;
they break out in song!
I hope you will find some time this summer to be out in nature, to re-cover your breath, to reweave body, mind and spirit, and to reclaim God’s goodness and mercy. That’s what re-creation is all about!
Weather permitting, we’ll see you Sunday at 10 am for outdoor worship. We can’t livestream or record out there, so I hope you find your way to join us. We’ll have a few chairs with arms for those of you who need support when you stand up. And blankets for kids to sit on the lawn.
Peace,
Pastor Jessie
