Rooted in Faith: Standing Tall Through Life’s Storms

The Rev. Jane Milliken Hague, Interim Priest in Charge

These past few weekends we have been buffeted by storms. Though typical of Maine weather, it snowed, rained, sleeted, and blew. I recognized how careful we humans needed to be as we traversed the walkways and fields. Walking required good gear and substantial clothing. At one point the wind blew me across a patch of ice. Fortunately, I was still standing by the time I came to rest.

What continues to amaze me is the resiliency of the trees around us. I look out the windows to see the branches heavy with snow or ice as gusts blow about the forest. The tree barely seem daunted by what weather throws at them.

Those who managed to get to church or watch the streaming service heard the comforting reading from Jeremiah: Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought, it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

My own bishop, Mariann Budde, reminds us of the necessary resilience of trees. They serve as a model for our own self as we are tossed about in these turbulent times. Trees can adapt to drought or floods, subzero temperatures or a heatwave, and cicadas or wooly adelgid. The roots of trees spread out and over most obstacles.

It seems that every day I hear of a friend who has lost her job. I read of the mass layoffs at the National Parks. I read about farmers who cannot ship their grain and livestock to other countries as aid, and they watch everything rot in the silos and barns. Whether you approve of these moves or are dismayed, my heart breaks for these women and men, families, who are tossed about in the confusion and chaos.

Resilience is nature’s imaginative response to challenge. It is what enables an organism—be it a cell, a tree, or a human being—to rebound and to evolve in the face of external forces that would otherwise threaten its integrity. The breadth of responses we bring to changing circumstances enables us to adapt.

The resilience and courage of humanity is a gift from God. Have you ever looked back at your life and been surprised at how you navigated traumas? You survived and even thrived. You are like a tree that stood tall amidst the storms. From the markings of the bark on a tree, the galls and knots give the tree character and beauty. Similarly, those marks on your own soul indicate the hurts and scars of life. See your own character and beauty.

Can you notice how God guided and chided you on your way? God does not cause the pain and suffering. God walks with us as we go through the valleys and wilderness. Admittedly, seeing God’s part can take some time and help from your church community.

Some years ago, I watched a documentary on Arctic animals and how they form clusters to protect themselves and their young against the cold wind. We congregate and do the same. With God’s help, we gather together and stand tall for and with each other and face the turbulent times.

There is always room in the huddle.