Trees as Silent Prophets

Trees as Silent Prophets

By Doug Wigginton

May 13, 2025

Olive Trees by Vincent Van Gogh

A good friend recently introduced me to the writings of Leonard Sweet, and I am very grateful for it. If you're not familiar with his work, NAV PRESS describes him as follows: "Leonard Sweet is a scholar of American culture and a semiotician who perceives things that others may overlook. He envisions possibilities beyond what most can imagine. He is a preacher and a bestselling author who communicates the gospel by bridging the worlds of faith, academia, and popular culture."

In a recent Facebook post, Leonard Sweet shared about a gathering of fellow scholars at his home. They began their discussion with the Bible's Tree of Life, mentioned in Genesis 2:9, which sparked a conversation about trees, referring to them as "silent prophets."

During this discussion, Sweet's friend emphasized that he encourages his congregation to see every tree as a reflection of the Church. He stated, "A tree is a Stick of Redemption. It absorbs our toxins, pollution, and the debris of human waste. Through some divine alchemy, it breathes out oxygen and life itself. Furthermore, it offers fruit, sustenance, and beauty."

Reflecting on their conversation, Sweet expanded on this metaphor: "The Church is not a sterile sanctuary; it is a living grove, a sacred arbor. It gathers the broken, the wounded, the poisoned, and the damaged, and through the wild mystery of grace, transforms them into something radiant—beautiful, good, and true. The Church is where the toxic becomes tonic, where the ruined is reborn, and where the Cross, that ultimate Tree of Life, whispers redemption to all who draw near."

Sweet concludes with a benediction: "Let us be trees of life, redemption sticks, rooted in Christ, breathing out hope and bearing fruit for a hungry world.”

Footnotes

1. Semiotics (/ˌsɛmiˈɒtɪks/ SEM-ee-OT-iks) is the systematic study of sign processes and the communication of meaning. In semiotics, a sign is defined as anything that communicates intentional and unintentional meaning or feelings to the sign's interpreter. — Wikipedia

2.  Leonard Sweet, Facebook page