Thursday's Devotion: The Knarled Tree and Me
Jeremiah 23:24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
John 7:3-5 Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."
Winter brings us a more intimate view of the hardwoods in our neighborhoods. As I walked this morning I noticed the unique shape of the branches. On some trees the branches are straight and angle up or out. On other the twist and curve. A branch on one tree I see near Colorado Ave. curves completely back on itself. It started out growing to the right and now grows to the left. Another tree I saw this morning had a large burly growth on the trunk. What causes this, I thought. What causes branches to dip here and go up there, to twist and turn? What caused that great growth? Was it internal or external forces causing the change? I know from studying botany that plants and trees have many secret things going on inside; especially trees who become home to a variety of insects and worms. Doesn't that in a way reflect us as humans? People have many secret things going on inside. To look at people from the outside we can't easily tell what causes their life to dip and go up, to twist to turn. Nor can we discern the secret emotions, or the effects of events, or potential, or strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we only see the bare branches and judge unfairly only to see spring come in that person's life and like this first redbud of 2012 in our neighborhood, they blossom is something beautiful and pleasing to God and to others.
Loving God, You know the secrets of our lives and we trust you to give us strength. Help us to blossom through your love and grace that we might live lives pleasing to you and in peace with one another. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
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