An Interconnected Forest

by Jenee Johnson

We all have connections or at least desire and aspire to create stronger connections and bolster our own (individual and collective) community, perhaps now more than ever. We are more than halfway through 2022, another year that has been so important in everyone's lives and in the entire human history. Many of us have continued to suffer and there are several recent aspects of our social and cultural life that may have been transformed forever. In these present moments, it feels as though our own future remains wrapped in a dense mist of uncertainty.

The above ideas were formed as I was overlooking the lush grounds beyond the confines of my backyard deck. At the time, I stepped outside to seek reprieve from a full workday because I’ve come to realize that I relax best in the outdoors, contemplating in my own singularity. 

When human noise is absent. 

When I can stay silent and soak in the mesmerizing song of Mother Nature.

When I can connect with myself uninterruptedly and when I am fully held by nature’s grasp and solitude becomes my story. 

I noticed the massive arbors, their green, newly formed leaves, and rough, wet protective bark as it had just rained. It was at this moment that an inspired thought manifested itself in my seemingly thoughtless gaze, “you are noticing their superficial qualities, Jenee, but how about delving into the depths of their design? For example, how about their root systems? Is the tree a singular piece that fits into a larger forest, as a puzzle is comprised of puzzle pieces? Perhaps it does not just exist, as it seems, by itself.” 

My curiosity led me to researching trees and as Ursula Le Guin taught us, “the word for world is forest.” In moments of uncertainty, fragility and contingency may we find the comfort, hope and strength that we need in the trees. Trees are indeed vulnerable and impermanent, but it is without question that they are also constant, slow, and patient. Their time is another, their world, which is partly ours, has its own expectations.

We can learn much from trees in our present climate. Namely, the importance of community. Evidence exists that trees share nutrients between themselves, thus making sure they and their posterity can survive. This is a quality, which we have not lost, but perhaps have strayed from. Our indignation towards what we deem is substandard does not help boost our community, it detracts from it; it saps us of our own resources, while also taking away from others who may not share the same beliefs. It is not our right to be judge, jury and correct wrongs, but it is our duty to live tolerantly in a fortified community. However, to ensure collective survival, we must also define boundaries for ourselves. 

For example, a tree naturally realizes that it is much stronger when it is part of a forest. When one tree is dis-eased, the others provide nutrients and act as support for that dis-eased one perhaps understanding that the roles may shift one day, and the stronger tree may be in need. Essentially, trees operate for the benevolence of the forest. This is what we can do for our community as well.

Here is the takeaway: we all assume a role in supporting the community we wish to have. We are positioned to ponder like the forest in being considerate not to grow on top of each other. Fundamentally, we can choose to nourish our opponents, even if we differ ideologically. 

We must protect our future. We must focus on doing good in the world. With this thought, I invite us to trust that our responsibility is to care for the trees nearby and not for the entire forest. If we focus one tree, our singular interaction may multiply and continue to impact others until the whole forest has been touched because our society is stronger when it is cohesive. You are not alone in this shared space that is a forest! Consider the other individuals who are meditating on these thoughts and allow yourself to be open to their interpretation of these ideas. 

May we continue to take this collective energy and expand it into our community including those that we do not know when encountering them in public spaces. 

May we feel more connected. Like the tree, let us absorb the connectivity underground and use that in our collective creation.

May we find peace inside the forest.