Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I went with a friend yesterday to a one day prayer meeting for climate change.  We began with Native People and a drum circle and singing and prayers to the four directions.  It was powerful, standing in a meadow praying for the earth to heal and us to take action to help that happen.  There was music at points throughout the day, and an amazing array of speakers:  James Baraz, Anam Thubten Rimpoche, Jack Kornfield, Joanna Macy, Julia Butterfly Hill and people from the Paris Agreement and One Earth Sangha.  Their words were inspiring and touching.  Julia Butterfly Hill's speech was spoken from the heart and so encouraging.  I believe we all went home determined to do at least one small action to protect our planet.  I felt strongly I wanted to speak for trees.  I have a daughter-in-law who works in this area, and I have been reading about trees for the last few years, but if I had to pin-point one spiritual support I've had from childhood it has to be being on the edge of woods and feeling free to walk alone into the trees, lie down on the earth and look up at the sky and sun past the canopy of trees.  Seeing the destruction of the trees in the western U.S. recently has agonized me, and I hope to write more about it and take some protective actions.  I have gratitude for the trees, and I want to repay my debt.