Nature’s Grace

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Dear Friend, 

The cool nights and dewy mornings of autumn have arrived here in the rainforest on the Oregon Coast in the Northern hemisphere of the United States. Now is when salmon are making their way upriver to spawn, black bear is calorie loading for winter, and elk bugle and battle to attract a mate from the herd. Almost everywhere I look I find examples of life’s ancient rhythm of survival. 

It is also the time when deciduous trees turn toward dormancy and surrender their leaves to join the unmatched choreography that announces the transition of seasons. The awe-inspiring display of color and movement calls to me. I’m especially attracted to a towering bigleaf maple who lives on the river’s edge; I sense she is a wise teacher. She hangs over the water, dripping with wisdom and epiphytes like moss, lichen, and ferns. 

She has already done so much this year: her blossoms provided pollen and nectar for bees, deer and elk browsed her new growth, and squirrels, chipmunk, and many birds feasted on her seeds. Her lush canopy of thick limbs and wide leaves provided shade and coolness from summer’s warm days for crawdad, kingfisher, and fisherperson. She can do all this because of the energy produced through photosynthesis. With the help from sun, soil, air, and water, she takes care of herself and in turn supports others.

Lately, I’ve been visiting her to bear witness to Nature’s Grace. A soft moss-covered boulder is the perfect seat to observe and learn about what it means to prepare for the dark days of winter. Each dropping leaf finds its own path based on its starting point, weight, the movement of surrounding air, and probably a myriad of other nuances. This equation affects the crinkled palm-shaped leaves’ flight and final resting place. Some drift toward the wild rose bushes and blackberry bramble, others float slowly down to the understory formed by an ancient volcanic flow, while many land on the rushing river like perfect boats carrying messages to others shores. Each leaf then provides cover and nutrients for so many insects and plant beings during winter so that they have the best chance to thrive.

How wonderful it is to contemplate the wide influence this one tree has for this landscape. She teaches me the importance of honoring the cycle of life, that some things are better surrendered than hung onto, and that our simple and generous offerings can benefit others even without our knowing it. 

From my heart to yours, 
Christina Burress
Board Member, OMEC   ​