The Meditation Tree

Around six years ago, I was dealing with severe depression over the loss of a job and a divorce. My life was in crisis. I soon found meditation and soon after that found my place of true peace, my meditation tree. I sat under this tree for hours on end, chasing down my thoughts, calming my mind, and trying to connect with the Source. The light from the sun always brought me closer to the Spirit and the earth. The shade kept me protected from the sun’s harsh rays in the hot summer months.

Meditation:

So I’m going to ask you to close your eyes right now and think of a place that gives you peace. This could be a tree or a nature scene. As you do, let a feeling of peace and calm come over you. Feel your mind become centered and your breath become more noticeable.

You are just like a tree. You may think that a tree is not doing anything at all but when you touch a tree or sit at the foot of a tree, you can feel the energy of God’s presence. It is refreshing, nurturing, healing. We can also be that way. We can help sustain and nurture those around us with our positive and loving nature. We can actually give them a glimpse into the kin-dom of heaven through our own small acts compassion and peace. 

Sometimes we are like a tree in a storm. The top branches of the tree may be blowing wildly in the wind. We may feel unstable and stuck in the mud of suffering. But remember, the trunk and roots are stable and firm. The roots go deep and wide. Feel yourself grounded, your feet rooted to the ground in God’s loving presence.

Creator and Sustainer God, Help us keep this feeling of peace within us so that we can water the seeds of hope in our consciousness. Let them be nurtured by Your Holy Spirit and by the loving kindness of our brothers and sisters around us. Help us garden the mind with good seeds, embracing and penetrating any sorrow or despair we might feel when we feel stuck in the mud of life. Because mud, can help us grow. 

Amen.