Dear Friends,

Our front lawn is a mixture of grass and weeds. We fought the weeds hard for a couple of years, but lately have mostly accepted them as part of the landscape. Gretchen and I take turns doing the mowing and I can’t say we fight over it, but the truth is, it’s something we both enjoy. Why? We mow grass the old-fashioned way, with a reel mower. It was Gretchen’s idea. She likes it because it doesn’t burn gas or use electricity.

I like it because it’s good exercise. And it’s a great conversation starter with neighbors out for an evening walk, especially with young adults who’ve never seen a push mower before. Neighbors of all ages appreciate the gentle, purring sound and our small contribution toward a greener way of life.

Community, stewardship, justice and awe. I’m grateful to Woody Bartlett for reminding us of these four cornerstones of our care of the earth as people of faith. When I came to the conclusion of his piece and the wonderful reminder that awe is perhaps the only possible response to the glory of God’s creation, one of Wendell Berry’s poems came to mind. It’s called “A Timbered Choir” and I’ll leave it here for you today.

A Timbered Choir

Slowly, slowly, they return
To the small woodland let alone:
Great trees, outspreading and upright,
Apostles of the living light.

Patient as stars, they build in air
Tier after tier a timbered choir,
Stout beams upholding weightless grace
Of song, a blessing on this place.

Receiving sun and giving shade,
Their life’s a benefaction made,
And is a benediction said
Over the living and the dead.

In fall their brightened leaves, released,
Fly down the wind, and we are pleased
To walk on radiance, amazed.
O light come down to earth, be praised!

(From The Sabbath Poems 1979-1997, A Timbered Choir by Wendell Berry. If you’d like to hear a beautiful musical setting of this poem, I recommend “Great Trees” by Malcolm Dalglish.)

The Reverend Allan Sandlin,
Associate Rector
Holy Trinity Parish