Book Notes: Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees

Recently, I have been listening to the new book Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees by Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy. I think I came across the title while scrolling through LinkedIn (a newer social media platform for me and so one that, as the algorithm keeps building its scary knowledge of me, for now has been showing me posts from a quite wide network). The book is a nice change of pace from the business and leadership titles I've been listening to lately--texts recommended in the MBA coursework I'm moving through. Books with titles like "Radical Focus: Achieving Your Most Important Goals with Objectives and Key Results," "Change by Design," "Competitive Strategy," and "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More than They Expect."

What struck me today, as the audiobook eased into chapter 7 (titled "It's All Connected"), was the way that the cooperative relationships of trees (and fungi) in a forest is such a powerful metaphor and example for us as we think of the connections between local churches. Indeed, as the BWC moves into a new season this summer of not only new districts but also HUBs (cooperative groups of local churches), this chapter seems spot on with what we are trying to do. Trying to do may even be a bit strong, because perhaps it really is a bout being who God has created us to be--a people and church made for connection and relationship.

I haven't yet finished this chapter, but here are some of the things which strike me so far:

• Trees thrive when in relationship with other types of trees. I've heard of types of trees with connected root systems. What I hadn't realized, and what scientists seem to be still discovering the fullness of, are the ways that different kinds of trees need each other. The authors explain, for example, that seasonal differences lead to evergreen (think pine trees) and deciduous (the ones with leaves, like oak and maple) trees to share nutrients back and forth as in the summer deciduous trees nearly monopolize the sunlight falling upon the forest, while in winter the pine trees thrive and their deciduous neighbors are just holding on till spring. Fungi in the soil also aid this process (an earlier chapter on soil is a whole rabbit hole I invite you to also dive into).

• Along those lines, the author give the example of harvesting trees for lumber and the effort to remove trees not ideal for lumber to leave behind those that were prized for their lumber. Doing this made the "good" trees weaker. The trees needed the complex ecosystem of other, different kinds of trees. Diversity of type in healthy relationship provides for optimal health and growth of all.

• Trees need sunlight but will often work around their neighbors, not complete with them.

As I think about our congregations working in cooperative parishes, clusters, and now soon, HUBs, these lessons from trees call us to value the contributions of each congregation, recognizing that all can be vital and helpful. This sounds a lot like 1 Corinthians 12, doesn't it!?

Many years ago now (probably more than 20 years ago, which is insane) I interviewed Bishop Joe Yeakel via phone from North Carolina for a paper I was writing for a seminary course. The topic was on the 1968 merger of the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church to form today's United Methodist Church. In 1968, Bishop Yeakel was (not yet a bishop) serving as the head of the EUB Board of Evangelism and shared with me that his Methodist counterpart was asked what difference the merger would make for the Methodists. That leader replied it would may little difference, and was "a hiccup in a windstorm." Bishop Yeakel explain that the crassness of the comment aside, it was pretty much true and that the Methodist Church did swallow up the EUBs. The Methodists did swallow up the EUBs, Bishop Yeakel said, but "I hope we gave them some indigestion on the way down."

Why then, I asked, knowing there was so much the EUBs would lose (independence, history, etc.) was it worth it to go through with the merger. "We could do so much more together," he replied.

We can do so much more together. That line has stuck with me ever since as part of my EUB inheritance. It defines my sense of call and purpose, especially in any opportunities I have had in conference and denominational roles. I truly believe this sort of approach is Jesus' command to all of his followers, but it is certainly central to how we operate as United Methodists. Our polity (the ways we structure and work as a denomination) are thus because of our theology (what we believe about God and God's involvement and expectation of us).

And, it seems, that same imprint of relationship and connectedness which theologians across the ages have proclaimed is indeed a reflection of the very nature of God is then no surprise to be reflected in creation, including trees. The very essence of all that is creation, not just of humans, is to be in mutual relationship. Collaborative interactions are God's expectation and nature baked into the very world around us. We can indeed do so much more together.