In the woods we return to reason and faith.    – Emerson

I was hiking with my favorite twelve year old in a glorious redwood forest, where we saw trees sprouting from trees sprouting from trees. Upon seeing a largish spruce that was rooted in a fallen redwood, he wondered how many long-ago layers lie beneath our feet, how many millennia were cushioning our every step.

Friends, how lucky we are to stand atop such history – in our forests and mountains and libraries and families and communities. 

May we recognize the seeds and sprouts of our time.

May we give thanks for all that came before,

the layers that support our reason,

inspire our faith,

cushion our steps,

and bring us into being.