The GAB 12.07.25
Planting trees, poetry as a spiritual discipline and a healthy dose of humility
I know that, for many around the world, it is a time to weep and a time to mourn. For some it is a time to heal and a time to build. For others it will be a time to embrace, and a time to laugh. None of these ways of being are more or less meaningful, in the meandering path of life we must trust that God makes everything beautiful in its time.
Considering this, how much more should we intentionally delight in those things we recognise as Good and Beautiful? Every time we reach out to someone in love; praying for, serving, forgiving, supporting. When we choose to believe the best in others; speaking with grace, protecting the sanctity of life, welcoming the stranger. Every time we refuse to bury our God given gifts, (by faith) picking up the pen, typing out a sentence, sharing a hearty meal or playing an instrument to the glory of God— we are planting trees. To plant a tree is to believe in the future, to declare from our roots that the hope we have in Christ will not disappoint us. Why?Because His love has been poured out in our hearts by His Spirit.
We rightly pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven—but what is the kingdom of God like? What should we compare it to? Well, Jesus asked (and answered) these questions for us!
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19 CSB)
To plant a tree is to provide shelter, sustenance and shade for those who will come after us. We may not immediately gain anything from our planting, just a knowledge that we have been obedient to plough the good earth and get our hands dirty for an eternal purpose.
To greet grief and devastation with pessimism and hopelessness is to sever the branches of the tree. To engage in cynicism and sarcasm, hypocrisy and blaming is to slowly burn the leaves which provide nourishment and shade. To withhold, obscure or confuse the Gospel message is to chop the tree down at its root.
What does it take to plant a tree and water it? Patience. Waiting. Diligence. Hope. Trust. Trusting that life and growth are rumbling beneath the surface of seeming barrenness. Praying that through us and in our weakness our God will comfort all who mourn. Ashes swept away to make room for a crown of beauty, oil of joy poured liberally over mourning, tailor made garments of praise replacing rags of despair.
We water what is planted with prayer and Scripture; believing God will continue to rebuild, restore and renew those devastated places, both physical and spiritual. Until they are recognised by all as righteous trees planted by the Lord, to glorify Him (Isaiah 61).
Our future hope is deeply rooted in the opening words of Psalm 1:
‘How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.’
Let us keep sharing with one another those things which are true, honourable, just, pure, and lovely. We are planting trees of life, in season and out of season.
To listen to…
What does it mean to “practice resurrection,” as Wendell Berry put it?
It’s easy to look at the chaos and barrenness of the world and think we can’t make much of a difference. At least not without being some kind of superhero. What good is planting a tree in a wasteland?
In this episode, the gang explores a different vision, provided by the story, “The Man Who Planted Trees,” by Jean Giono. Because maybe, just maybe, there’s a way forward.
This episode of Solum Podcast features Matthew J. Andrews on biblical portraits and poetry as spiritual discipline.
“It’s not only my neighbour’s will but their honour that needs to be more important than mine.”—Steve Macchia
Spiritual communities are to be marked by humble and meek followers of Jesus. In this episode, Steve and Matt explore questions like: What is the role of humility within a spiritual community? How do we honour and prefer one another over and above ourselves? Tune in to hear more about the ministry of meekness and how we lead others from that posture.
To read…
‘Like I’m walking through the hallway of life, clutching a backpack that feels too heavy, wondering if anyone else is carrying the same weight. I keep trying to show up, to offer what I have, even when I feel small, even when the ground beneath me feels unsteady. And somehow, in the middle of it all, God keeps showing up too. Not with all the answers, but with just enough grace to help me take the next step.
‘I recently learned about the coolest bookstore in the world—well, probably.
It’s called The Poetry Pharmacy, and it has a couple of locations in London. The whole premise is that patrons can get “prescriptions” for their various ailments in the form of poetry tucked neatly inside little pills.
Need a boost of confidence? Find some self-esteem with Mary Oliver. Have a broken heart? They’ve got you covered with a little Shakespeare! You name your woe; they’ll give you some Poe… err… maybe not Poe—but, hey, it rhymed! What I meant to say is you name your woe, and they’ll have some poetry for you to read and soothe your soul with.
So, in the spirit of The Poetry Pharmacy, I’d like to share some poetry for whatever ails you…’
‘I believe, like many other thinking people, that creativity is one of the most important tools we can give our children in a world where they are being fed a steady stream of mind-numbing entertainment and scrolling their childhoods away. I will say I don’t pretend to be a scholar or an expert on the subject. I’m just a mother who has carefully observed my own life and children, and over the years, I have developed some ideas about making a home that fosters creativity.’
- on the sandwich generation.
‘I guess that’s why they call us the ‘Sandwich Generation’. We are still parenting young-adult children, while at the same time attempting to gracefully maneuver through the aging years of our parents with honor. The similarities are endless; how to love our family without becoming a dictator, how to aid them in making their own decisions, how to help them navigate the path which will provide the best outcome for their future.’
- on being an artist is respectable.
‘You see, and I hate to tell you this, but if it hasn’t happened to you yet, and you’re an artist of any medium (visual or otherwise), the world is going to tell you that you’re not doing enough. That you should set the bar higher (yes, I was told that to my face once), go get your doctorate in something you hate, or go save the world with your mad math skills (that last one’s kind of a joke, but you get the gist). If you aren’t doing things by the world’s timeline, then gosh darn it you’re behind. Where are we rushing to, exactly? No one could quite answer me on that one. Yet, most passersby still wish to tell me what sort of career to switch into “just change your degree, you could be a (whatever he or she thinks I should be)!”
Christian Art looks at the house built on the rock and the house built on the sand.
'In today’s Gospel reading Jesus delivers a sobering reminder: it is not enough to simply profess belief in God with our lips. True discipleship is measured not by words alone, but by the actions that flow from a heart aligned with God’s will. As He concludes the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns that even those who cry “Lord, Lord” may be far from the Kingdom if their lives are not shaped by obedience, justice, compassion, and love. As St Ignatius of Loyola beautifully put it: “Love ought to show itself more in deeds than in words.”
‘In the conversation surrounding mothers giving up goals and careers to stay home with their children, we usually fail to mention the sheer amount of humility and courage it takes to set aside those things. I imagine that, to some, it might seem like a lack of virtue (fortitude, discipline, and persistence) that drives a decision like this. To me, now, on the other side of things, it is clear that a decision like this can only be made if God has granted the graces of humility and courage and they have been accepted (even if begrudgingly, at first).’
Jessica Norman on why we loved Lewis Capaldi’s Glastonbury comeback.
‘It is because, as humans, we are wired for stories of authenticity. We love a comeback story. The narrative of someone who ventures into the wilderness and then returns speaks to something in all of us. Who is willing to admit their own weakness. To return to the stage in this moment reminded us that the comeback was greater than the setback. This was a moment worth celebrating.’
‘Many universities that once promised spiritual and intellectual formation now promise financial prosperity. Institutions of learning, once the moral lifeblood of a society, have become, and are becoming, businesses that wield their elitism as a marketing gambit. The academy is abandoning the ideal it was built upon.’
‘At our breakfast table one morning, the visible effect from relentless nightmares became evident on Mac’s face. Exhausted, he mustered up enough energy to put on his school uniform and brush his teeth. I put a plate of eggs in front of him as I said, “Take at least a few bites. You need to get to school.” Through tear-soaked eyes he looked back at me and with a heavy sigh said, “I just want to get some sleep.” Six year olds aren’t supposed to know desperation. The hopelessness in his voice shocked me out of managing-life mode and into the very real present problem.’
Poetry please…
- on sharing about how poetry saves lives. Yes, really.
‘The days from 2021 to 2023 were extremely dark. So dark that I lost my will to keep living. I was bedridden for nearly a year in my own home, and the suffering was beyond what I can explain. For obvious reasons, poetry was the furthest thing from my mind for the first time in my life. I didn’t read it. I wasn’t teaching it. And I certainly wasn’t writing it.’
- delights in the donut.
‘I wrote this poem on a morning when I woke up earlier than I wanted to—my mind just wouldn’t let me rest. Life felt heavy, noisy, and cluttered, and in that quiet space before the sun came up, I found myself reaching for something simple and kind. This piece is about that moment: chasing a small joy, like a pink-frosted donut, and realizing that even in the middle of exhaustion or overthinking, goodness is still there, soft, patient, and waiting to be noticed.’
- on the incredulity of St Thomas.
Music
Here in Derbyshire we are experiencing a mini heatwave. Long, humid, sweaty car journeys are the worst—but praise God for working air conditioning! Being stuck in rush hour traffic jams in stifling summer heat reminds me of this song…
The last word
‘Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.’ (Revelation 22:1-5 CSB, emphasis mine)
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all dear readers.
And remember—Christ is before all things. And in Him all things are held together (Colossians 1:17).
Ishah Xx
This was so incredibly beautiful and balm for the weary soul, Ishah! I needed this today of all days. And thank you for the mention too, that was so kind. :)
Great thoughts Ishah! We are heading up to a tree-lined lake right now and Your words will echo in my mind-especially the line about cynicism and sarcasm killing the root system of that living tree.