James Stuart is a Druid/Wiccan priest and dear friend of our church. He preached with husband Michael on St. Francis of Assisi Sunday. Enjoy the message..
A friend shared an interesting story on facebook just last Sunday. It chronicled what happened when wolves were intentionally introduced back into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. The Deer and Wapiti population had exploded in the park due to a human created lack of natural predators and were completely disrupting the ecosystem. Some areas had been grazed and browsed down to a near desert like status. When the wolves re-entered the ecosystem, they killed and ate a few deer, culling the herd. But the changes didn’t stop there.
The deer stopped frequenting open areas where they were easier prey, in particular the open over-grazed valleys. These areas almost immediately began to sprout new growth, inviting back birds, squirrels, insects, and reptiles. Within a few years, barren plains had become meadows and were turning into forests. Existing trees previously kept stunted by the browsing deer, shot up an astounding five times their height in just a few years. These trees then became an attraction for beavers. The dams built by the beavers created a welcoming environment for returning fish, amphibians, ducks and otters.
The wolves also killed and displaced some of the oversized coyote population, with the result that rabbits, mice, and other small rodents began to multiply again. This then, attracted their natural predators: foxes, weasels, badgers, hawks and bald eagles. Most remarkably of all, the rivers themselves, because of less erosion, and the dams of the beavers, became more stable in their courses, with less flooding or loss of topsoil to the surrounding areas. The entire ecosystem benefited. This phenomenon, where a species at the very top of the food chain has a dramatic impact upon its entire environment and beyond, is referred to as a “trophic cascade.”
This story serves to underscore the importance and value of every species in the rich tapestry of creation. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is today, understood a little of this, and was condemned for it by many of his fellow churchmen. He lived in an era when all of creation was considered by most, to be placed by God, at man’s disposal to do with what he liked, even unto destruction. Fortunately, far fewer people still believe this today. Unfortunately, some still do.
As people of faith, we are watched and judged, and followed by others. We are expected not only to speak out upon moral issues, and to take moral action, but also, we are judged by what form that action takes. We are not political leaders, who are often forgiven for committing crimes in the name of justice, waging war in the name of peace. We are not allowed such leniency, not by the public, not by our consciences, not by the Divine. Because we claim to answer to a higher power, we are held to a higher standard.
Francis too, felt that he had to speak out about what he felt was right. He advocated and took a vow of poverty, when many in the church had grown rich and fat on the contributions of the poor. These corrupt churchmen found his selflessness, and respect for all beings, human and non-human threatening. When he appealed to the Vatican to create his own order, the Franciscan, some, particularly amongst the wealthy and powerful Dominican Order tried to stop him by accusing him of an “unnatural love of animals.” The implication was, not that he understood and loved all of Nature, as God’s wonderful gift of Creation to be cherished, but that he engaged in bestiality, and was therefore the worst of sinners, perhaps even a heretic. Because he questioned and upset the established quo, he was being attacked personally.
Today, is no different. There are those who refer to those of us who speak out with legitimate concerns about the health of our planet, as “eco-terrorists” or “environmental fascists.” Nonetheless, we will continue to speak out. We cannot do otherwise.
But speaking out is not enough. We must act. Like the wolves of Yellowstone, we are at the top of the food chain. What we do as a species, even as individuals, most often has a far more dramatic and far-reaching effect upon our environment than we could ever imagine at the time. This has certainly been true of the thing which we have done with resulting ill effect, but it can also be for the better as well. Our government’s visionary, conscious and deliberate reintroduction of the wolves to Yellowstone is an excellent and awe-inspiring example. We must not lose sight of the fact, that as the primary source of change upon this planet, we have the ability to be the primary source of improvement and renewal. We can be responsible for our own trophic cascade.
In many religions, perhaps most, humanity is viewed as being the link between Creator or Creatrix and Creation itself. We have dared to believe, that though we are not quite divine, we are also somehow not quite completely a part of Creation. Indeed, it is that notion of being somehow above Creation, which has got us into this environmental mess in the first place. But, we are a part of Creation. We are not just its recipients, not just its custodians; we are part and parcel of it. And it is part and parcel of us. We are the cognitive link between the Divine which creates and that which has been created. We understand, or at least, flatter ourselves that we understand, some small part of the will of God. That notion, also, has frequently got us into much trouble in the past, but can just as well, with perseverance and some sacrifice, can also be our salvation.
In the beginning of Genesis is the Word, the Logos, also called the Divine Wisdom, the Hagia Sophia. This is the spark of all Creation, elsewhere referred to as the Holy Spirit. This is the spark which we carry within ourselves. This is the spark which we must use to ignite a wildfire of understanding, compassion, empathy, peace and harmony, especially in these troubling times, for all people, of all religions, for all beings, for all of Creation. We are all children of God. We must never forget that. If we are ever to be worthy of the unique position which we hold in this planet, we must rise to this challenge. We have very nearly been the death of Creation. We must now seek and find the Divine Nature placed by God within ourselves and become the Resurrection.
In order for you to better understand my own perspective, I will give a couple of examples from our Druid liturgy. In each of our rituals, we honor the Divine, as we see it, in all its varied forms, and we honor our Ancestors, all of those who have come before us, regardless of race, or religion.
But also, we honor what we call in Gaelic the Sprideanna na Talaimh, the Spirits of the Land, “Creatures of Fur, Fin and Feather, of Bark, Leaf and Twig, of Stone, Rock and Crystal, Creatures both Seen and Unseen.” The belief held here, is that we are all one family, and that the Spark of Creation, which we call the Awen, and which you know as the Holy Spirit exists in everything, whether it appears alive or visible to us or not. The Awen is the symbol which I wear around my neck, three tongues of flame descending from the Heavens to inspire humanity, like the Holy Spirit of the Pentecost.
Also, amongst our Sacred Hallows, we bless and sanctify a tree. It is not the specific tree which is important. We do not worship it, contrary to what some believe. It is merely symbolic of a concept, a great World Tree, which exists only in Spirit, our Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Its roots are said to grow deep into the nether realms where the dead sleep, waiting to be awakened. Its branches are said to reach high into the Heavens, beyond the Gods whom we claim to know, to touch the very Face and Breath of the Unfathomable One Who has created us all. Its trunk and branches stretch out to support and touch every being on Earth, every part of Creation. You can see why I associate it with the Holy Spirit. It is with this belief and understanding that we say in our liturgy, “Crann Naomh, fas isteeach muidsan. Sacred Tree, grow within us.”
We are asking that the Holy Spirit which connects all of Creation to God, continue to thrive and grow within ourselves, that we might become not just worthy of Divine salvation and blessing, but its very instrument. To some, this may sound a bit vain on the part of imperfect beings such as ourselves. But with all humility, I believe that it is necessary, now more than ever, and I believe that Saint Francis of Assisi would wholeheartedly agree. With that in mind I offer you this final wish and blessing: may the Sacred Tree grow within each and all of you.