Comments on: If A Tree Falls During a Quaker Business Meeting

By: Gar Mickelson

Gar Mickelson — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:31:33 +0000

I’m thinking that “if this were a dream”, it might mean that weakest part of the “tree” (Yearly Meeting) has fallen off. The stronger remnant will continue on- growing, etc., while the old weaker part will be carved up and returned to the earth from where it came. While continuing on, the stronger remaining part will look a little misshapen for a while, until those who remembered what it was before move on.
I could go on with this for a long time!
OR, it could mean that half our new logo is about to fall off the digital file…

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:12:37 +0000

So your dad had some questions…so do I. I left the meeting about 10 minutes before the break to walk over to the dining hall in hopes of taking care of some unrelated business with the food service people. As I walked across the quiet campus I heard a soft cracking sound and turned to see where it came from, just in time to watch the oak descend with a muffled THUD. I was amazed at how quickly the campus grounds crew were there to survey the situation and begin cleaning up the debris…not knowing they had been cutting down a different tree on the other side of the Lemmons building!

By: Gregg Lamm

Gregg Lamm — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:57:36 +0000

Friends,

Luke got part of the story right! Here’s an excerpt from the email I wrote to Clyde Thomas (George Fox University’s Physical Plant Director) the afternoon after the tree fell at GFU …

“I know this story will be hard to believe, but in a strange way I feel kind of connected with the oak tree that fell down in the GFU Quad during the middle of the night Here’s what happened …

Last night after the NWYM pastor’s reception, Teresa and I were walking back to our car from Cap & Gown … it was parked behind The Lemmons Center. We walked on the grass the whole way, and just before we walked through the Virginia Millage Memorial Rose Garden, I put my hand on the oak tree that fell this morning and asked Teresa, “Gee, I wonder how much longer these awesome oak trees will be here?”

As I type out this story I’m hearing the theme song from “The Twilight Zone” TV show in my head. I know there’s no “cause and effect” between what I said to Teresa last night and the tree falling. But it’s weird. And I tell you this … I’m now going to be very careful about what I touch and say from this moment on. Speaking of which, it will be good to see you again soon, and to shake your hand! Godspeed. – Gregg

Clyde wrote me right back and told me that there are several trees in Hess Creek Canyon that he’d like me to “lay hands on”. I guess I can add “Tree Whisperer” to my resume. Godspeed.

read.think.pray.live.

Gregg

By: luke

luke — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:22:35 +0000

Another aspect to the tree-falling story is that on the prior evening a certain pastor patted the tree and asked, “I wonder how long this old tree is going to last?” (He said something like that.)

By: Robin M.

Robin M. — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:50:32 +0000

I tend to think that in a dream, all the characters are some element of myself. So it would depend on whether I thought I was the tree or not, in my dream.

And sometimes, trees just fall down and it’s not God’s fault.