More Than Our Scars
The beauty of nature invites many of us into a deeper awareness of our interdonconnection—with one another, with all of creation, and with the Divine. One day, as I sat quietly in the midst of nature, I came upon a tree: broken, gnarled, and clawed. In its silent way, the tree spoke to me in a language only trees seem to know.
It placed upon my heart a poem—one of loss, pain, transformation, and birth…a poem of love. As I listened and transcribed the words of the tree’s poem, I realized I had been given a precious gift: her poem had become ours.
I am drawn to a tree
Hurting, twisted, and broken,
Gnarled, damaged, and mangled
It’s pain barely spoken
Deep claw-marks tell of woundedness
Heavy gouges express longing
Misshapen branches reaching out
Seeking peace and belonging
Let me sit with you a while
Let me caress all your wounds
Let me experience your heartache
And your grief let me sooth
May we be one in this moment
Making each other’s pain Ours
May we experience some relief
Realizing we are more than our scars
Yet, as I see you more intensely
You are life-giving love
New shoots and new branches…
Stretching out up above
Open to others
Sharing yourself with the moss
Bringing hope to this place
Seeing beauty beyond loss
As I listen more closely
Your message to me…
I have loved and am loved
for Love is all I can be
I am simply being…
All I’m meant to be
And so… I choose love
Because… love chose me
Upon my return visit
My tree firmly speaks
Thanks for knowing and sharing
A shed tear on your cheek
Enough attention on me, now
See… my sisters and brothers
We love being known
And sharing our life with others
So let us now together
All gather and sing
A song of Love and Thanksgiving
To the creator of all things
Peace,
Joseph Krans, Executive Director
Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center
