Moss and magic

There’s a short loop trail, the Hall of Mosses, at the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park. Moss, of course, is a given in a rainforest. But the trail traverses some particularly beautiful areas. This spot, filled with magnificent trees, dwarfs walkers. Did you notice the people in the shot above?

Some trees are so covered in moss it’s hard to tell if the trees themselves are still alive. The effect of the greenery and moss is truly magical.

Other trees are iced with a coating of moss that gives them an entirely different look from a typical evergreen.

The Hoh Rainforest can be reached as a day trip from Sequim although the roughly three hour drive each way makes for a long one. We camped for a couple of days which allowed more exploration.

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As I reflect on the world’s grief and pain I’d like to share a longer prayer that seems fitting with the rainforest photos above.

A Prayer for the World

Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.

Rabbi Harold Kushner