Being a Tree

“A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is obeying Him. It consents, so to speak, to His creative love. It is expressing an idea which is in God and which is not distinct from the essence of God, and therefore a tree imitates God by being a tree.” — Thomas Merton
New Seeds of Contemplation, New York: New Directions Books, 1961; p. 29.

While driving the car, working around the house or talking with persons, I am often distracted and have thoughts of past or future in my head. However, while working in the garden I am usually focused and my mind is where my body is, working in the garden. Like a tree, I believe I am doing what I am meant to do, working in the garden. This kind of being happens at other times when I do something naturally like helping a friend or cooking a meal for others. When I am reacting to what people may say or think about me I not doing what comes naturally and thus am distracted.

If a tree, with no brain, can give glory to God by being a tree, and a worm, with a very small brain, can give glory to God for being what it is meant to be, then we humans, with large brains, should be able to easily give glory to God by being who we are, naturedly.

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