The Healer's Tree

Description

The Healer’s Tree is a book of 28 short readings and reflections in response to the call back to the garden, back to full relationship with God and all creation. It reflects on the struggle to make sense of living as mortals who are drawn by spiritual aspirations and a desire for God but are also bound to the earth and one another with a need to find real faith-based responses to the ecological and humanitarian dilemmas facing the world. Hearing the call and responding, we see life differently. ‘Self’ loses its power, the illusion of isolation ends, for all creation is interconnected. It is not just we who are renewed; all creation depends on our return for its renewal. Suitable for group or individual use, each reflection includes a biblical quotation, a passage of prose, a prayer, questions for reflection, often relating to further biblical passages, and a closing thought. Some reflections are suitable for use as visualisations –– an exercise where one person reads while others imagine the scene described in a state of relaxation, or where a person alone imagines the scene after reading it several times. However, the reflections are not written with the expectation that everybody will wish to use them in this way. A selection of the readings can be made around particular themes to form a series for Lent, Advent, Creation Season and other times, or for a retreat on a specific subject. The reflections: Garden of Eden: Home The Tree of Knowledge: Discovering God’’s constant support The Tree of Life: Self-giving God The Healer’’s Tree: Messenger of God’’s grace Kevin and the Otter: Need and greed The Tamarisk Tree: Surviving the desert Silent Witnesses: Humanity in the dock? The Gardener: Our divine commission Sun, Moon and Stars: Finding a way in the dark The Olive Tree: In war and in peace Tree Stumps: Bringing down the mighty The Woodwose: Welcoming our wild side The Cedar Trees: Building for the glory of God? Hazels of Wisdom: What do we seek? St Columbanus and the Bear: Fair shares All that Breathes, Praise the Lord: The whole communion The Green Man and the Three Hares: A common bond Jesus in the Wild Places: Being rooted in prayer St Melangell: Becoming Sanctuary St Aidan: Doing God’’s will St Hubert and the Stag: Conversion to gentleness The Lion and the Lamb: Hunter and hunted St Kevin and God’’s Mercy: Accepting grace The Forests of Badenoch: Inheritance of the meek The Beast: Empires of the world The Greatest Law: Is our love big enough? Elijah in the Desert: Presence of God Along the Riverbank: Coming home