Roots and Wells
Listen here:
While growing up, on visits to my extended family in the north east part of the US, we would drive along the heavily wooded and shadowy Wissahickon Drive, and through the hilly neighborhoods of Conshohocken, Manayunk, and Passyunk of Philadelphia. These names and places stirred quiet curiosity and a feeling of communion inside of me. My child's heart knew that these names and places told a deep story of another time and people I did not know. I would later learn that in the language spoken by Native Leni Lenape, Wissahickon means land-of-the-turtles, Passyunk means valley, Manayunk means river and Conshohocken means large-bowl-ground-place which indicates the bend in the Turtle River. In fact, the Lenape were describing the contours of the land they lived with. These hills, valleys, and riverbanks were among the first places I felt a longing to be in relationship with people and other beings alike – to understand cultures, languages, and habitats unlike my own.
I share this because these are the people and places imprinted on my heart that I go back to again and again when I feel the need for rootedness. They are the deep wells that give life. We all have such places that keep us rooted and refreshed. Trees and rivers and all Creation have their own journeys too distinct from humans. They have a right as much as humans to thrive in healthy and productive ways.
Drawing on the deep wells of our lives gives meaning to today. Going to the deep well is both a symbol and real. If we continue to live broken relationships with the earth, we lose those memories and future generations will not be able to create new memories that become their wells of life.
I invite you to take a moment and reflect on your own deep wells and listen to what emerges.
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