blog first published on March 14, 2017
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me. Psalm 131: 1b.
The scenic bypass left the four-lane highway, which was in itself a beautiful driving experience. Even in the drought conditions through which California has suffered, coastal Highway 101 was spectacular. When you get to the northwest corner of the state, the road heads inland a bit away from the famous sections of winding road on the cliff edge looking out on the ocean. Instead of crashing surf, you see trees and mountains. Turning off the famous north-south road, we headed into the Redwood Forest National Park.
After passing a meadow and a park gate, the road entered the forest. Instantly, the trees vaulted to the sky. These trees were remarkably larger and taller than what I’ve seen elsewhere. The road honored their presence and wandered a bit, side to side, bypassing trees as it went along.
The further we headed into the forest, the darker things became as the mammoth trees filtered the sun. Things were also greener as brightly colored ferns blanketed the forest floor and bunched up alongside the road. At a cut-off called “Big Tree Wayside,” I pulled the RV as far as I could off the road. It was time to do what we had come to do – walk among ancient giants.
Whoever named the “Big Tree,” might have been lacking in imagination. That said, this old growth giant, which is an estimated 1,500 years old, is aptly named. The tree is certainly “Big” with a circumference of 68 feet. Standing at its base, you have to lean your head backward as far as it goes, and you still can’t see the top. With head back and hand at my forehead to shade the filtered sunlight, I was a loss for words. Too great and too marvelous for me to get my head around. How do you begin to fathom that this huge tree is as massive and as old as it is?
When the mind and imagination lack capacity, mystery invites us into a different kind of conversation that words can not bear. Silence is the language for such moments. It is a sacred silence that beckons to the place where we praise God. Humble. Silent. We praise the timeless Creator who watched over the seed as it broke ground, 1,500 years ago and declared it to be good.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2017. Walt Lichtenberger