We just got back from a camping trip to Redwoods National and State Parks. One of the nights there we attended the campfire program about the old growth forest led by Ranger Brad. The program really helped me to learn more not just about the old growth forest, but about the national park service as well. What really struck me was the way we began by talking about community. Ranger Brad reminded us that it was the work of communities that saved these trees in the first place. He also let us know that we were a community of campers, who were enjoying the trees and sharing their beauty and importance with others. He said, “Isn’t it amazing to be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves?” I’m in the business of community too, so this really resonated with me. It’s not just about trees or the ecosystem, but it’s about how we connect to it all and how we work together for something greater than our individual selves.
The other fascinating piece of the program (aside from learning about fungus) was the fact that Redwoods is unique in our park system. While the majority of our other national parks were created to preserve pristine environments, Redwoods was logged significantly. It was created to restore an environment as well as preserve one. Right now very smart people are working to help the park return to the climax environment of an old growth forest. This means removing roads, returning logs to streams, and much more. Ranger Brad said that the national parks service is the only government institution planning 500 years ahead. The work of the national parks service is a gift to future generations. The names of the people restoring mountain sides and encouraging trees will all be forgotten in the erosion of history, but the work that they do will live on so that unimagined peoples can appreciate the natural beauty of this world. It’s inspiring to be around an agency that is excited about the future and working to create places for people to connect and be a part of something bigger than themselves. One inspiring moment was a series of photos taken over 15 years showing a barren, road covered mountain side converted into a lush forest with a natural waterfall restored. The painstaking work to reach that small victory was part of a long view towards something even more healed.
The passion, the vision, and the gift all remind me of what it’s like to be part of vibrant, healthy faith communities. It was a good lesson that sometimes we think so small about the immediate problems or challenges. I wonder what it would look like if we started thinking about 500 years down the line and what sort of world, what sort of spiritual gifts we would like to leave the people then. This is a conversation we are beginning to engage with here at SFC as we continue to strive to move beyond self, to connect with something vast, and to be a gift to our community and world.
-Eilidh
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| In the tree |
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