Posted on by Michael J. Cunningham

Tall Stories About Trees

Tall Stories About Trees

I’ve just spent three days involved in a retreat entitled Retreat beneath the Trees. You might wonder in the state that has made the California Redwood its home, why would someone come to a retreat to talk about trees?

Well, it turns out that trees are pretty interesting. Not just for gardeners, who often use trees as the large punctuation points of their artwork. But also, arborists, who have made a study of trees. What are trees? Why do we need trees? What have trees ever done for us?

Many of these questions were answered over the course of the weekend. Many attending the retreat didn’t realize that one of the main functions of a tree is to take the poisonous carbon dioxide that fills our atmosphere and turn it into useful oxygen, which is our very breath of life. Recent studies have proven that trees, while not having a brain, or the ability to reason, know what to do when times are hard. They move liquids and nourishment to the parts of the tree that are in need, or have become damaged.

And trees through a combination of their root systems, and other means, communicate with each other. Warning each other of impending danger, and even creating chemical responses, preventing their nearby friend trees from catching some disease or fungi.

There is an intelligence within the tree, and amongst trees that we were only just beginning to understand. Or even scientifically recognize. Trees protect themselves by increasing the amount and thickness of bark so they can survive the most difficult fires. Some acorns and cones can keep their seeds safe for up to 20 years. Thereby ensuring the continuation of their species.

Trees provide an anti-pollution, anti-global warming, eco-friendly, atmosphere for all around them. And when I say atmosphere, I really mean atmosphere.

We all have our favorite trees, we all had many tree experiences, some perhaps from our childhood, others as we’ve traveled through life. They become a part of us that’s important.

Over the course of the weekend, part of our observations of trees, and their behaviors was to see how this ties into our own spiritual lives.

Of course, trees are a part of the wonder of creation. So, the more that we experience and feel being at one with nature, the more our spiritual depth and appreciation expand. Trees are not just a source of wood to do something with, but they also provide fruit, shelter, protection, and many other functions. Interestingly enough when they have provided all of those functions, they then offer themselves up. Offering themselves up to become the framework of someone’s home, the chairs we sit on, the furniture we eat off; and eventually mulch for our garden to nurture the new plants and trees. Sort of the ultimate giving back when you think about it.

Because the tree is not a thinking reasoning being as we are, we don’t think much about their sacrifice. They just are. Trees. Doing what trees do.

But what if I was to think, just for a moment, like a tree I would have to do some difficult things. Firstly, I would have to stop fidgeting, in fact, I would have to stop moving at all, I can wave a lot but I can’t relocate myself. I would have to be happy with where I am right now wherever I was planted and make the best of it.

Anytime I became ill or had a problem, someone Hacked Off my branches, I would not complain. Instead, I would redirect the necessary healing forces to reinforce that area until the wound grew over. And the area where I was wounded would become stronger than any other area on the tree. This not only offering protection but illustrates that wounding me will strengthen me. Something to think about from a spiritual perspective, if I wasn’t a tree.

And then if the weather is bad or the sun is too strong, I just close up my leaves, stay flexible and move with the wind, and right out the storm, or drought, or wind. And I wouldn’t complain. No matter how long it went on for.

And I would still look good and provide water and nourishment to my leaves and branches right till the very end. And at the very end, if it was to come, I wouldn’t complain. I’m just a tree. Doing what trees do.

So when I’m stressed I put all my energy into trying to fix, as best the tree can, whatever the problem is.

Finally, I can say as a tree, that I have no worries. That is because I have no ability to worry, I take it as it comes, and I can’t stress out because I do not have an advanced worrying brain to bother me. And yet the humans lying under me are talking about all their worries, as they eat their picnic, in the shade. The shade which is me. I am just a tree.

But today you need me. And that makes me feel real good.

Copyright 2024 Michael J. Cunningham OFS

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Only with the Heart

Only with the Heart

Some of you may have heard that the heart is a more powerful organ than previously thought. In recent years, scientific research has been conducted to illustrate this point. Here is an excerpt from a scientific paper from the Royal Society of Psychologists in the UK. Full paper here.

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The brain in the heart:

After extensive research, Armour (1994) introduced the concept of functional ‘heart brain’. His work revealed that the heart has a complex intrinsic nervous system that is sufficiently sophisticated to qualify as a ‘little brain’ in its own right. The heart’s brain is an intricate network of several types of neurons, neurotransmitters, proteins and support cells similar to those found in the brain proper. Its elaborate circuitry enables it to act independently of the cranial brain – to learn, remember, and even feel and sense. The heart’s nervous system contains around 40,000 neurons, called sensory neurites (Armour, 1991). Information from the heart – including feeling sensations – is sent to the brain through several afferents. These afferent nerve pathways enter the brain at the area of the medulla, and cascade up into the higher centres of the brain, where they may influence perception, decision making and other cognitive processes (Armour, 2004). Thus, it was revealed that the heart has its own intrinsic nervous system that operates and processes information independently of the brain or nervous system. This is what allows a heart transplant to work. Normally, the heart communicates with the brain via nerve fibres running through the vagus nerve and the spinal column. In a heart transplant, these nerve connections do not reconnect for an extended period of time; in the meantime, the transplanted heart is able to function in its new host only through the capacity of its intact, intrinsic nervous system (Murphy, et al, 2000)

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Now that you are up to speed from a scientific perspective, we have intuitively known this for centuries. We often describe a person by what is in their heart, even when it seems that they are not behaving in a way that illustrates their good intention.

In the end, you can only judge a person by their heart. Not their clothes, how they walk, the inflection of their speech, the color of their skin, their age, size or other physical characteristics. And yet, it is sometimes not easy to jump to conclusions more rapidly than we would like.

As a Franciscan, I always wear my Tau Cross when I am at the San Damiano Retreat, and by doing so, I create a form of identity that may cause inquiry from others. Are you a priest? Or a brother? Such inquiries usually lead to an explanation of what a secular Franciscan member is, and that closes out the issue. At a simpler level you might see supporters of a soccer or baseball team with their favorite team’s apparel or as recently, Taylor Swift fans gathering for a concert in Zurich, Switzerland.

Each of these provides clues to our identity, or who we identify with, helping others see a little of who we are in some way.

However, all too often, we jump to conclusions about a whole series of other things when we see or hear another person talk. There is often a requirement to do some serious listening and “investigation” to get to know that person well enough to see beyond the visual or other clues that may be causing us to jump to conclusions.

Sometimes these responses are reptilian in nature, where we immediately decide that this is a person we want to deal with, are worried about being with, invoking an attitude of response to them before we have really gotten to know them.

Several years ago, I wrote myself a poem “Add Ten Seconds” to remind myself that encourage this listening process, to find out more about the person before jumping to those all too easy, and often wrong conclusions.

While on vacation in Switzerland recently, my daughter and her daughters were on their way back to their hotel for the evening in Zurich. Passing by a local hotel, it was noted that Taylor Swift was staying there, and a large crowd had already gathered in hope of getting a glimpse of her as she passed from her car to the hotel entrance. What followed was a four-and-a-half-hour vigil by her father waiting for Ms. Swift to return. She did not, so was probably already in the hotel before people started to gather. However, during this time we spoke to many fans, known as Swifties, who were in town for the concert being held the following day.

One of those fans had a VIP pass, and a Taylor Swift CD sleeve, hoping for an autograph. He has been there for many hours before we gathered. This man, probably in his mid-thirties, was hoping to have Taylor provide him with a close-up selfie photograph which he had seen Ms. Swift do on other occasions. It seemed a very unlikely event as the pose he wanted was to have her standing behind him with her arms around him and her hands in the shape of a heart. Given the security surrounding her, I could not imagine such a thing occurring. As it turned out, he had to leave to catch his last train home at around 9:00pm but vowed to return to the hotel entrance again by 6:30am the following day to continue his quest.

I mention this because this man was obviously a serious fan, and initially seemed somewhat borderline fanatical on first brush. But after talking to him for a while, his sincerity came through, and while his dedication may have appeared a little too close to adoration, it was clear he admired her music, her values and the way she had created a community of like-minded souls surrounding her music and view of the world expressed therein. 

So then, back to the title of this rather longer-than-normal reflection. We can only tell who someone is by their “heart.” All we have to do is to listen to what their heart is broadcasting to our own. Something to ponder for the week.

ADD TEN SECONDS

Add ten seconds to each moment,

And my response would be better,

kinder, warmer, more forgiving,

than my first.

But can I ever be as loving as He is to me?        

Poem, image and reflection Copyright Michael J. Cunningham 2024

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The Coping Room

The Coping Room

What is the coping room? For me it’s a metaphor for where I go when something needs to be sorted out or reviewed. Something that is bothering my soul and demands attention. In a house that represents ourselves in the world, there may be many rooms. It can be a small, easy to maintain vacation home with few, or a mansion with so many they are hard to count.

Each of us is different, but I think we all have one room which we may call the coping room. Imagine a space not dissimilar to the incident rooms of the best crime TV programs. They are wallpapered with the information they have, who are the players, victim(s), suspects, relationships, events relevant to what is being sought. Of course, I describe this room merely to relate to what may be on our minds when we are trying to cope with a situation. It might be a change of circumstance, and all the things either have, or must be altered as a result. An important relationship is changing and you are not sure what to do about it. Or a life event, expected or not. There are many reasons for us to enter the coping room, and I am sure what is on the walls and the furnishings used to cope are different for us all.

Perhaps the most important part of the coping room is how long it remains open for business. Do we close out the things that cause it to be open? Do we visit some more often than others?

For me at least, recognizing that there are things in the coping room forces me to visit quickly and often. Otherwise, we the problems or solutions that lie within remain embedded and will fester in some way. However, there is always one person that I sometimes forget to invite. When faced with difficulties the most important presence to have in this room with you is the almighty one. God. And yet, we believe, because of our personal skills and gifts that most problems can be solved alone, or if not alone with some trusted friend or spiritual advisor. There is nothing wrong with this of course, but forgetting that God should be invited is a critical mistake. When we don’t involve God in our lives, particularly the parts where we need to make key decisions, reparations, resolutions. All the paving stones on the Road of Peace we all seek.

Do you ever notice that “nothing” seems to phase some people? They can be faced with the hardest dilemmas and issues and yet, still seem to know what to do. I would argue that God is not only present in their coping room but has littered the walls with suggestions. “I am with you always”, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” “Remain in me, as I remain in you”. Yes, these scripture quotes remind us of the continuing presence within us, so the next time we turn the handle of the coping room door, and enter, we can be reminded that God is with us.

The coping room is not only a place of deliberation that we visit when something major comes up but can also be a room where we dart in for a moment or two before making an important decision. Seeing the coping room not only as a place of resolution or respite from longer-term decisions, but it can also be a place we visit to head longer-term problems off by discerning and deciding actions more quickly. In this way, the coping room can be a resource for us, not just a refuge to hide from what we don’t like in our lives.

Each of us has differing levels of tolerance, patience, understanding, and propensity to act. For this reason, there is no one-size coping room. How does your coping room look in your life? Do you visit often, or try and limit the visits? What would be on your walls? What is the furniture, books, resources, and tools that your coping room contains?

One of the key resources to help us is contemplative prayer. The prayer form when we are in close contact with God for our human as well as our spiritual well-being. Regardless of your disposition, being mindful of God will always help keep the coping room cleaner than we can manage alone.

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Embracing Failure: An Insight into Spirituality of Imperfection

Embracing Failure: An Insight into the Spirituality of Imperfection

In recent years, I recall reading a very interesting book called the “Spirituality of Imperfection”. 

The book opens with the following quote from a commissioner of Baseball.

“Baseball teaches us, or has taught most of us, how to deal with failure. We learn at a very young age that failure is the norm in baseball and, precisely because we have failed, we hold in high regard those who fail less often—those who hit safely in one out of three chances and become star players. I also find it fascinating that baseball, alone in sport, considers errors to be part of the game, part of its rigorous truth.* 

Francis T. Vincent, Jr., Commissioner of Baseball

The authors go on to modify this quotation to indicate how much of our spiritual journey can be explained through this analogy: 

“Spirituality teaches us, or has taught most of us, how to deal with failure. We learn at a very young age that failure is the norm in life … errors are part of the game, part of its rigorous truth.”*

Of course, we are all broken in some way, but the lesson here of learning that much of our development and movement in our lives, comes from making errors can also be applied to the spiritual journey. We are all imperfect in some way, and yet God still loves us. 

When I review my own spiritual journey over the years, I can see much of the change, at least the positive changes, occurred when I had recognized when I had failed in my relationship with God and others. The forgiveness which is there for us through the sacrament of Reconciliation and God’s unconditional love for us helps us to heal and move closer to Him. 

This week let me see how the Peace of Christ is forged within me by helping me with my own errors, and showing how this unlimited supply of grace keeps us all close to Him and each other.  

How do you deal with your imperfections? Do they constantly nag you for change, or can you live with them? Living with yourself.

* Kurtz, Ernest. The Spirituality of Imperfection (p. 1). Random House Publishing Group.

Image and Reflection Copyright 2024 Michael J. Cunningham

Stop: by Michael J Cunningham

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Fresh Fields

Fresh fields

Fresh fields: an older phrase perhaps falling into a little disuse these days. What does it mean? It means moving on to pastures new, yet another farming analogy thrown in there, or rather just changing something in your life.

This can come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are minor, some of them spectacular. Changing jobs, romances, partnerships, places to live and work, spiritual disposition, the list goes on. 

Sometimes when we hear the words fresh fields or new pastures, we may have been invited to them without asking for them. A company takeover happens, your family is relocating as a child then you have to go with them, the breakup with the lover or spouse. Sometimes the fresh fields are forced upon us, and they feel more like a delivery of manure than the morning sun rising on some beautiful new horizon. 

Nevertheless, regardless of whether we are involved in deciding what the new direction is, or whether it’s been foisted upon us, we have to make the best of it.

Probably the first thing that happens as we start to imagine what it’s going to be like in these new fresh fields. What will I need to do differently, will I need new skills or attitude, will I need to adjust, what will I need to take with me? And if others are coming along, how do I convince them that this is a good idea or an inevitable one? These things are often milling around our heads, or hearts as we try and determine how best to deal with things.

In my own life, I’ve been through many transitions that could be defined as fresh fields. Certainly, meeting my wife in South Africa many years ago called for many fresh fields to appear on the horizon in a very short period. Marriage. Immigration to a new country. New jobs. All within a matter of months. 

Other changes can be more minor, a change of home, new hobbies or skills, perhaps new friends. The interesting thing about fresh fields, particularly if there’s more than one going with you to these new fresh fields, is that everyone sees them slightly differently. What you might see as an advantage and an opportunity, creates worry and terror running through the veins of those you are bringing with you. Children are very adaptable to change, but like the rest of us we develop habits, we have places that are close to our hearts, things in familiar surroundings; and we are often reluctant to leave them. 

In my own life I have seen people who have made massive changes, move to many fresh fields over time, and those who have done less. Those who remained in the town or the country of their birth, and their families now live close to and around them. It is not a one-size-fits-all; these fresh fields. We can resist the fields, and grow hedges that obscure our vision so we don’t have to look that far ahead or make those decisions. I can’t say that I see anything wrong with that. But for others wanting to look over the hedge, just wanting to see what’s in those fields just a little distance away, it is what motivates us. Again, I do not see anything wrong with either. 

However, I do think the willingness to look at fresh fields, and to be open, if not just for yourself, then for the others around you is a healthy disposition. When I was young, I always quoted myself two things. As if I needed reminding, actually I think I did need reminding which is why I continued to quote them to myself. 

These are:

there is no rewind button in life and there are only two variables in life time and how you use it.

This doesn’t mean that we don’t have regrets, and when we do have regrets, we can perhaps adapt our lives so we don’t regret them a second time, or in some cases the third time. And yet there’s also a willingness that should be present, a desire to take some risk, to move into some of those fresh fields, perhaps learning a new skill, meeting new people, modifying your attitude in some way, that is important. 

It’s important because it may change how we feel about the fresh fields before we see them, before we reach them, before we settle in them. 

Image and Reflection Copyright 2024 Michael J. Cunningham OFS