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The Copper Beech
Sisters, may I tell you a story?
As you know, outside our Aston refectory
there stands a huge copper beech tree. Larger, more beautiful I
think, than any other tree on the grounds.
Well, it has always reminded me of us, the
Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia. A symbol of us today. A witness
of all that went before.
Right now it is summer strong. The branches
are filled with hundreds of leaves that have turned regally from
spring green to glistening dark copper.
Often, I see the tree dancing and swaying
in the sunlight. The robin, the blackbird, the little sparrow shelter
in it. The gray squirrels chase swiftly about its trunk. In the
bright sunshine and the falling rain, the fragile, mobile leaves
glisten and whisper in a secret, sweet intimacy. Sometimes, though,
I hear the tree stir uneasily in a swirling storm.
During the winter, the tree grows stark and
bare, but I never worry then. I know that the spring will come…the
outstretched arms will fill up…new leaves will dance a bit-as
we do when we're happy-and I will see the copper beech laugh up
to the sky again as we do sometimes to the Father…even swish
and sway on its sturdy, deep roots.
Only the leaves that curl up, fall off, sadden
me. Then they are alone and fragile-too soon crumbled by whatever
attacks them.
Sisters, in our strong heritage from Mother
Francis and Saint John Neumann, we are all together like that lovely
copper beech tree. God's world is open to us. His love is wider
than the sky. I think that Mother Francis would want us to remember
that, --be flexible to all the changing weathers.
---gracious
to the sunlight and rain,
----sturdy
and strong in our deep roots.
I think, too, she would love to hear us pray
with her-
because
the covenant the Lord Jesus made with her, --
we
cherish…and are faithful to.
And I know, I just know, she would love to
sing His praise with us,
Joyously,
because
we
are one
in
His love!
---Sr. Jeanette Clare, OSF
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