by Lynne Salomon Miceli

Years ago—probably 2008—the A.R.E. of NY Community received an unusual gift.

Peter Goldbeck was doing one of his healing events at the A.R.E. of NY Center—then on 31st Street. Admission was by donation. Most people put some cash into the donation bowl. One man who attended was not in a position to give money—but he had been to an event about ecology and the environment earlier that day—and he had been given a tiny little sprig of a tree to plant.

It was what he had, and he put it into the donation container. After the event, Peter G. brought the tiny twig to me. (At that time I was the Director of the Center.) “I have no place to plant it,” he said—but he knew my husband, Peter Miceli, had a garden plot in Riverside Park.

My husband took the tiny sprig and planted it in his garden. It survived and grew just a bit. Then in 2009, I retired as Director and we moved to Virginia. The tiny tree was a spruce, my husband said, and it would not do well in the warmer climate of Virginia. So we gave the tree, about a foot tall by then, to my sister Carol, who lives on Long Island. We planted it in her front yard.

Years passed.

The tiny tree grew—slowly at first, but it grew.

Today, that tiny twig is a beautiful blue spruce in a perfect Christmas tree shape—well over six feet tall. (That’s a yardstick in front of the tree in the photo.)

Carol decorates it with Christmas lights each year there in her front yard —and it’s a source of beauty and joy.

To me, this story illustrates what happens when people give whatever they can. Even a small gift, if nurtured, can grow into something big and beautiful—that brings Light and joy to this Earth! In the coming season of giving, we ask you to give what you can. Your donation of any size can help our A.R.E. of NY Edgar Cayce Community to grow, flourish and bring Light, healing, comfort and joy to many! It may take some time to reach its full glory—-but every gift helps our organization to thrive, grow and fulfill the purpose for which our Community and the Creator co-created it. Thank you!

And a special thanks to the donor of the Goldbeck Spruce. We don’t know his name, but we will always appreciate his gift, which keeps on giving!