“God, why do I storm heaven for answers that are already in my heart? Every grace I need has already been given me. Oh, lead me to the Beyond within.”
~Macrina Wieherkehr

Several times a week I either walk or run a route that takes me along the pathways of Cherokee Park and the bluffs that line the Mississippi River. The sidewalk moves through residential streets on one side and the dense trees that form a canopy through which, if I’m lucky, I will see barges or riverboats moving on this powerful body of water. Over the last year or so I have been aware of particular tree near where the path ends at the High Bridge that pour Smith Avenue into downtown St. Paul.

Sometime last year I noticed a large zip lock plastic bag tacked to a towering oak tree. I walked over to the tree and read the note inside. It was a plea from the parents of a young man, asking him to come home. I watched as the seasons changed from summer to autumn to winter and back to spring. Nothing changed within the plastic bag. From that I had made the hopeful assumption that the young man had, indeed,been found.

But this week as I was running down this same path, this time in the heat and humidity that has marked this summer, my eyes were distracted from my route by several items placed on and around the tree. Tacked now to the trunk is a large yellow ribbon looped as so many are that symbolize a certain cause……AIDS awareness, the fight against breast cancer, to name only two. Written in marker on the ribbon were words of love, again with the signatures of “Mom & Dad”. Another plastic bag was hung just below the ribbon. Inside was a hot pink post-it note with the frilly hand writing of a young girl. Also a lovely picture of a sunset over a lake. At the base of the tree,ringing the ground, was a bouquet of yellow roses, a package of Sour Patch Kid candy, a can of Monster energy drink, and a hand painted red wooden heart with the word ‘forever’ painted in shaky white letters.

It is difficult to know what to make of this Message Tree. Its presence along this well traveled path fills me with a deep sadness and many questions. Who is this young man? More importantly,where is he? Why did he leave these people who obviously care for him? Why this tree to hold these messages? Has he seen their pleas?

Seeing this outpouring of care toward this person causes me to think of all those who are lost, whether by choice or by chance. It reminds me of the many who are not physically lost but are spiritually or emotionally making their way through a dark and troubled land. It also stirs up the times in my own life when I have felt like I was wandering in the wilderness, unable to find any kind of signpost to guide my way. Has this ever happened to you?

Being lost at one time or another is a common experience of growing up and growing into wisdom. Many of the great stories and myths that have shaped us and brought meaning to our lives contain a thread of being lost, of trying to find a way home. Along the path are often guides or signs that give hints and hope to the wayward traveler. Sometimes these are actual signs or even animals that point the lost one in the right direction. Sometimes there are angels to protect the lost soul. Other times there might even be the voice of God to give direction. All of these stories always end with great learnings about the self and the wisdom the journey has offered.

And so, on this day, I offer my prayers for all who are lost. For all who are wandering, trying to find a way to the home for which they long, may there be guides and signs to guard the path. And particularly, for the young man whose name is written on the yellow ribbon that has made its home on the oak tree along my daily path, may you be filled with the Beyond within. And may you receive the blessing of this tree so full of messages just for you.