And if we are praying with the body as well as the heart and mind, then we can also pray to the pine tree, the moon, and the stars. The pine tree is quite solid, the moon is always there on time, and the stars are always there for us, free and bright. If we can be deeply in touch with the pine tree, we are able to be in touch  with the one mind, with God. If touching means that God is able to transmit energy to us, then the pine tree can also transmit energy to us…

… so being in touch the almond tree (St. Francis story) is a way of being in touch with God. You will not find God in an abstract idea. This is something very important. God is here for us through very concrete things.

— Thich Nhat Hanh, The Energy of Prayer, p.70