👟 TREE 720: The layers between

The ground is always holy. (By ’holy’, I don’t mean something belonging to a religion. I mean that we humans have the capacity to recognise that this universe and specific expressions of life in it are wondrous. We can look all around us and see goodness.) One reason we don’t see it much of the time is that there are layers between us and the ground. The layers can be literal concrete – sterile built environments that separate us from animals, plants, dirt and fresh air. The layers can be other things too:

• Food which is so processed that it hasn’t resembled its natural form for months or years

• Policies and systems that reduce people to cogs in a machine.

• Stories, propaganda and media formats that dehumanise the humans you disagree with.

• Pastimes that deaden creativity.

In the bible when people realise they are on holy ground, they take their shoes off. They get rid of anything that disconnects them from the earth. Now science has caught up and recognised that touching the surface of the planet with bare feet is good for health.

You’re on holy ground. Perhaps it would be a good idea to remove your shoes and step off the concrete. (This can be applied both literally and metaphorically.)

‘Driver, take me to some grass!’

Grow slowly
Jeff