Tree by Jane Hirshfield, for Christ the King Sunday
This Sunday, which brings to a close the Christian Year, is Christ the King Sunday. Our scripture reading for Sunday, John 18:33-37, finds Pilate interrogating Jesus about claims that he is King of the Jews. Next Sunday begins the season of Advent, in which we prepare for the birth of Jesus. In this transition we find Crucifixion/Resurrection leading into Incarnation it is a holy moment of the year.
The Salt Project offered up this poem, Tree by Jane Hirshfield for this week. It is brief and vivid. I love woods and trees. One day I will see a redwood tree. I must. So, of course, I immediately fell in love with this poem. Then I remembered it was Christ the King Sunday, and the poem was transformed. May it be a blessing to you all.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan
Tree
It is foolish
to let a young redwood
grow next to a house.
Even in this
one lifetime,
you will have to choose.
That great calm being,
this clutter of soup pots and books —
Already the first branch-tips brush at the window.
Softly, calmly, immensity taps at your life.
+ Jane Hirshfield