Black Spruce

Black Spruce

In August of 2018 my husband Richard and I took a trip to Newfoundland.  Newfoundland was beautiful and it provided not only a feast for the eyes, but some real food for thought.  On one of our seaside hikes we entered a forest of black spruce.  There were signs up there telling us that this particular forest contained very mature trees that were near the end of their lives.  That fact in itself is interesting to me, because trees live so long that we usually don’t think much about their natural life span.  But trees, like all living things have a time to live and a time to die.

This is a picture of what the trees in that forest looked like.  Although they’re more than 100 years old, you’ll notice that they’re not very big.  Large trees wouldn’t last in this coastal area because the soil isn’t very deep.  The trees look old, though.  They’re a bit ragged and gnarled -- and nearing the end of their lives.  Usually, a forest is populated by trees at varying stages of life.  This diversity of ages ensures the continuation of whatever species of tree is dominating the forest.  In this forest, all the trees are mature.  Because it lacks the diversity it needs, when these black spruce trees die, the make-up of the forest is uncertain.  Park scientists don’t know what the area will look like, but they don’t think that this space will be a black spruce forest in the future.

So, why is this forest populated by only mature spruce?  Well, it’s because the forest has been undisturbed.  Disruption creates conditions that allow for new growth.   Disturbance creates renewal. Over time, soil is buried beneath a thick organic layer.  For new growth to occur, the soil needs to be exposed.    It needs a disturbance.  Natural disturbances are things like fire, wind, and insects. 

Wind disturbance opens up the forest canopy and lets sunlight in.  In the sun, new growth begins.  Seeds that are present in the soil or blow into the area with wind are now able to take root and start growing.  Sometimes wind knocks trees down.  We’ve certainly seen plenty of that in southern Virginia in the last few years.  If you’re like me, when you see a tree that’s fallen over you think, “Oh, that’s too bad.”  But, once a fallen tree makes contact with the ground, the process of decomposition starts.  As a tree decays, it releases nutrients back into the soil.  While it’s very inconvenient when a tree falls in your yard – especially when it takes out some power lines, in forests, toppled trees are a healthy part of the life cycle.

While in the past, fire was considered a destructive force that had to be extinguished, attitudes have changed.  An absence of fire creates a forest dominated by old trees.  Now, when fires occur naturally in the national parks, they are allowed to burn --  at least for a while.  Sometimes “prescribed burning”  is used to restore health to a forest that has been undisturbed for too long.  Fire is a natural disturbance that plays a vital role in the regeneration of forests.  Frequent fires create patches of forest diverse in species, structure and age.  Fire also creates a habitat suitable for a variety of animals.

Yeah, yeah, yeah…And?  Well, the black spruce forest came into my mind this morning as I was meditating.  COVID-19 is a disturbance that has been sent into our forest.

COVID-19 has brought illness, death, and loads of stress.  Stress, tension, and conflict are typically viewed in mostly negative terms.  No one likes to feel these things, but tension, is not only inevitable, it’s a potential source for good.  In fact, it may be more accurate to say that some form of stress is required for the good.  So, when I’m feeling stressed and tempted to fight against the disruption this strange time brings, maybe I can change my mind and embrace it.  Rather than giving in to frustration, maybe I can surrender to this unique opportunity for growth.  Maybe rather then wondering how long this will last, I can pay attention to what’s happening in my life and in community and look for evidence of God at work.

In Ephesians 5, Paul urges believers to redeem the time. “¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” The word for time in this passage is Kairos, and rather than the time on the calendar or clock, Kairos is a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action : the opportune and decisive moment. Think of a pregnant lady ready to give birth.   Make the most of every opportunity, Paul says.  Don’t be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.  Romans 12 echoes this idea.  Paul says that as we submit to God’s transforming work in our lives, we’re able to “test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”   The times are so urgent, so pregnant with possibilities for redemption and transformation, that we can’t afford to miss it. 

In Ephesians 5:18 Paul urges believers to be filled with the Spirit.  Can you think of two metaphors for the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures?  Wind and fire!  Forests need the natural disturbances of wind and fire.  We need the supernatural action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and communities.  The Holy Spirit stirs us up – disturbs our soil so that new growth happens. 

This is an opportune time to discern the will of the Lord.  As we embrace the disruptive action of the Holy Spirit in our lives – individually, and as a community , the Lord will infuse us with new life and growth – and perhaps a renewed sense of vocation to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ.  May God grant us – the community that is Reformed and always being reformed - His grace as we move into the future.

Here’s a benediction – again from Ephesians (chapter 3):

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.