Tree
How beautiful a tree can demonstrate and illustrate our own testings…
There's an old oak standing alone in the field over there. Twisted, gnarled, scarred, nailed with the boards of a hundred little boys playing pirates in its branches. It stands there firm, doing what God has purposed it to do. Uncared for...unproclaimed.
Last week we had a bad storm. The thunder threatened to flatten everything around. The lightning was flashing bolts like a war between a thousand Zeus's arrowing their contempt at each other. Then the rain came and came and came, trying to punch holes in everything it touched. Then the wind came like a giant mix-master stirring everything into the right blend of chaos!
The next morning...when the earth had returned...I looked out back and...and.... Most of its leaves were torn off and many branches broken; some hanging uselessly by shredded strips of bark, but worst of all...burned, blackened, raggedly split off...one of the two main branches.
No more would little boys be drawn into that bosom or hide in that cleft or stand defiantly in that fortress.
"Funny thing," I thought..."Ragged, wounded, that tree still stood there proud and serene; that last limb reaching toward heaven as if waiting for the return of the Son of Man!"
The city's workmen are coming to cut you down old tree, but I will remember you. I remember when I was confused and unhappy by the many tangled problems of life and I saw you standing there unruffled, undisturbed; untiringly giving roost to tired birds, shading chipmunks and rabbits from the heat, giving your very self for their food and shelter.
I remember you...as you stretched yourself toward the sun, enjoying its warmth; soaking up the nourishment of its light; sparkling clean and bright afterwards, shaking yourself in pure delight from the gentle caress of the breeze.
I remember the bad times you had....like when the cold winter winds came, howling and swirling around you, piling snow high up your sides, trying with their weight and ferocity to topple you over. I remember when the ice storms came and covered you with the ponderous weight of their cold brittleness trying to crush you into little fragments; and still you stood uncomplaining...strong...knowing your Master was watching.
Thank you! Thank you tree for being there! Thank you God!
Last week we had a bad storm. The thunder threatened to flatten everything around. The lightning was flashing bolts like a war between a thousand Zeus's arrowing their contempt at each other. Then the rain came and came and came, trying to punch holes in everything it touched. Then the wind came like a giant mix-master stirring everything into the right blend of chaos!
The next morning...when the earth had returned...I looked out back and...and.... Most of its leaves were torn off and many branches broken; some hanging uselessly by shredded strips of bark, but worst of all...burned, blackened, raggedly split off...one of the two main branches.
No more would little boys be drawn into that bosom or hide in that cleft or stand defiantly in that fortress.
"Funny thing," I thought..."Ragged, wounded, that tree still stood there proud and serene; that last limb reaching toward heaven as if waiting for the return of the Son of Man!"
The city's workmen are coming to cut you down old tree, but I will remember you. I remember when I was confused and unhappy by the many tangled problems of life and I saw you standing there unruffled, undisturbed; untiringly giving roost to tired birds, shading chipmunks and rabbits from the heat, giving your very self for their food and shelter.
I remember you...as you stretched yourself toward the sun, enjoying its warmth; soaking up the nourishment of its light; sparkling clean and bright afterwards, shaking yourself in pure delight from the gentle caress of the breeze.
I remember the bad times you had....like when the cold winter winds came, howling and swirling around you, piling snow high up your sides, trying with their weight and ferocity to topple you over. I remember when the ice storms came and covered you with the ponderous weight of their cold brittleness trying to crush you into little fragments; and still you stood uncomplaining...strong...knowing your Master was watching.
Thank you! Thank you tree for being there! Thank you God!
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