Carys’ sabbatical: inspired by nature 1/3 Trees

While I have been away I have been inspired by nature, everyday it seems to deepen the longer I spend outside. With no ‘to-do’ list, with no needing to get back by… I have valued spending time with nature and valueing it. I have been building on the sessions we spent with Forest Church or Wild Lent. I have spent evenings lying in my tent watching the eve come, light change and moon come out. Spent time watching the rabbits playing in the field. Listened to birds sing in all places, and tried to catch the moment they stop singing in a evening, and the moment they start in a morning.Over this time this time I have particularly connected with Christ through trees, wild flowers and water. I plan to write three articles on each of these. First TREESA few months ago I did a creative day based on Tree of Life,  I created a painting that represented the roots as much as what you would normally see of a tree. I had a figure near the trunk, it was meant to be me showing me that my strength is in the roots the unseen bit of me, my strength is also in Christ. Since doing this art day I have been spending time looking at trees and wondering at there root systems.So with that and the time we spent with forest church it shouldn’t be suprising that I have encountered Christ through trees.I spent some time staying in a ‘ Lambing hut’  a couple of miles from Looe. While I was there I walked through the lanes, along a river, through woods to the town. Along the way I stopped and spent time looking at trees and the roots that I could see. So when the path sunk down between banks with trees on I found I was able to stop and reflect on a tree from root level. I found myself focusing on a 2 inch square spot and wondering and marvelling at life in all its fullness. I was aware of life in that small spot beyond my understanding, I was remembering micro climates. A couple of days later I spent the day at the Eden Project, they have zone called ‘Core’, this was wonderful as it then added to my understanding of life in all fullness. Looking at what is invisible this transformed my view of life. My time spend reflecting on trees has made me wonder on life, recognise strength, the visable and invisible…