DEAR FRIENDS OF THE WELL,
Across the street from my Bend, Oregon home is a beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest that sits on the campus of Central Oregon Community College. My two daughters live on the other side of the forest. Since my 5-year-old grandson, Denali, was a toddler we have been playing in these woods. Denali liked to play Christopher Robin as we carried pretend cakes and teas to our friends: Rabbit, Piglet, Tigger, and Pooh Bear. He aptly named the forest, “The 100 Acre Woods.”
These woods provided much needed healing and restoration after my daughter, Denali’s Aunt Mary Kate, suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a mountain biking accident. Mary Kate couldn’t spend time in the wilderness, but she could manage a short walk to the woods where she would momentarily feel like herself again. She came to know and love every inch of that forest.
Last summer a large swath of the forest was cut down. When Denali saw his Aunt Mary Kate at a family gathering, he said, “Did you see that they cut down the Hundred Acre Woods?” He continued, incredulously, “They cut down trees to put up a building!” And he went on, “They could put a building anywhere. They didn’t need to cut down trees to build it!” Looking him directly in the eyes, Mary Kate said, “I know, Denali. I cried when I first saw what happened. I loved those trees.”
“And a little child will lead them”
Recently, my husband and I were taking the grandkids for a ride. Denali said, “Pop, you know how they cut the trees in the Hundred Acre Woods to build a building? Do you know why? For money!” Pointing to an empty lot, he continued, “Look, they could put a building right here. They don’t need to cut the forest!” I responded, “Denali, maybe we could write a letter to the people who make these decisions and tell them that.” He replied, “Yeah…but they won’t listen.”
At the Well we invite people into an experience of the spiritual dimension of all creation. We strive to open eyes and hearts to recognize the presence of divinity everywhere. It is our hope that through our mission we can deepen our level of consciousness so that one day Denali’s wisdom- and the wisdom of all children- will be voiced, heard, and acted upon.
During this Christmas season when we celebrate the child born into our midst, will you share your resources to further our mission of unity and inter-connectedness in the hope that all of us, like Aunt Mary Kate, are moved to tears when we choose buildings over trees, and money over people?
Christmas greetings of peace and joy to you and your family. And thank you for your generosity to The Well!
Bridget Sperduto,
Executive Director