Tall Tree Cathedral
In my tall tree cathedral, stained glass windows are blue sky
The pipe organ is the wind's song as the brook goes singing by
The forest's soft lush carpet brings a hush to this retreat
I slow down and I listen, for I know my God will speak
Incense of pine and cedar bears a message from the ages...
"Send your praise and worship skyward, don't get lost inside of pages"
I hear God's word so clearly in the water and the wind
He reaches down to touch me as I open up to mend
The water's word is WASH, God washes tears and sin and pain
And he speaks of living water so I'll never thirst again
The wind's word is FREE, God sets me truly free
Free of fear and of resentment. Free to live and to be me
Even now earth is a garden. Just sit still and look around
We're caretakers of the planet...with care-GIVERS life abounds
Oh my God, I love your garden! Oh my God, I love you too
And I'll send my praises skyward through the tall trees up to you!
-Barbara Jack- copyright 1990
Tall Tree Cathedral Back Story
This poem has a special place in my heart. As you can see, it was written in 1990 when I was still living in a city, in a real house rather than a cabin or manufactured desert home. It was vacation week at our mountain cabin and I was looking forward to sleeping in. At about 6:00 AM, the birds and chipmunks woke me. I could hear a wood-pecker pounding on a tree a short ways away. The chipmunks and squirrels throw pine cones onto the roof. Partly to get them down so they can eat them and partly to wake Norm in hopes of peanuts on the stump soon! The air was clear and fresh on the screened sleeping porch. The sound of water tumbling down the hill could be heard in the background. What amazing music! I looked up through the sleeping porch screen. The blue sky between the tree tops seemed richer and more vivid than ever. In all directions I was reminded of the beauty of the earth and the special magic that seems to abide in tall timber.
None of the cathedrals I have toured in this country and others can compare with the beauty and the inspiration of nature. God created this place all by himself. As I laid there on my back looking up and listening. I started to hear words in my head as I started to describe my tall tree cathedral. They poured out and I had to jump up and write them down before they left me.
How do we remember what is important to us and to our world? A wise teacher told me to surround myself with nature as often as possible. There, he said, you will remember...and I do!
My poem, Tall Tree Cathedral is my way of remembering where to go for strength and now I live with this beautiful spot 8 months of the year. In 2007 after two bouts with cancer in 6 years, my husband Norm said, "I just keep wondering where it might show up next." I reminded him that it might never show up again. Then I remembered that he has always had a dream of living in the mountain cabin purchased by his grandfather before he was born. I said, "We will never know how long either of us have, so we should not be postponing joy. Let's sell the house and move to the cabin."
Three days later our house was sold and the adventure began. We wake each morning and look up at the Tall Tree Cathedral. It is remote, wonderful and when the snow comes we have to leave, but until then we love each morning. We moved there in June and it is now October, so our cabin days are limited until next spring....but the poem goes where we go.