St. David the Tree-Dweller

 

                                                                  St. David the Tree-Dweller

Happy are those

    who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
    or sit in the seat of scoffers,
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
    planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
    and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

                             Psalm 1:1-3 NSRVue

I've known for decades about St. David, the patron saint of Wales, who according to legend got up to lots of cool things, including miraculously raising up a hill so people could hear him better while preaching. Clever and practical. 

This week I read that there is another holy namesake, St. David the Dendrite, or Tree-Dweller.  He lived in Greece from the mid-fifth to the mid-sixth centuries and he got his name from climbing an almond tree to escape those who hounded him for wisdom and prayer. He lived in the tree for three contemplative years, praying that God would reveal God's will to him. There are so many logistical questions here, but who am I to be dubious. This St. David had his feast day on June 26th. 

I've never been much of a tree-climber, but I do love trees. Ruth scrambled up trees for decades but retired last year after an unfortunate tumble that, happily, did no permanent damage. 

As an unabashed tree-hugger (feet firmly on the ground) I like the notion of a saintly tree-climber who presumably enjoyed almonds. Knowing the benefit of trees for sustaining the planet we might all mark June 26 on our calendars for next year. And as I've regularly mentioned, trees show up in the bible repeated, from beginning to end. 

The bio of St. David the Tree-Dweller at Holy Hermit Online (I'm not making this up) includes this lovely prayer:

God of creation, we give you thanks for the sanctuary we find in the natural world and all that you have made in nature. As we remember David the Dendrite and his need for time spent in solitude with you, may we be inspired to bravely advocate for our retreat spaces and serve our communities with faithfulness and wisdom. We ask your Spirit to help us discern when to withdraw and when to be active in communion with others in faith. May we see the coming of your Kingdom alongside David and all the other

Hermits we remember. Amen.