Humans are intricate creatures. We don’t need to be far off of normal, and we refer to ourselves as “sick”. We all admire health and vitality.
We bought our place in the foothills of the Rockies. First impressions are very different for each of us. I was particularly impressed with how, on 5 acres, we had what could almost be considered a coastal rainforest, and on the upper side of the escarpment, a semi-arid pasture. Tough prairie grass, that greens after rain and turns brown a few weeks after. It will cycle several times a season.
The Broken Timber lies like a fallen soldier beside his comrade that is still valiantly defying age. Both trees are in the lower escarpment, or the “rain forest”. These old soldiers have a girth four times what the younger trees surrounding them have. Yet the old boys are only two thirds as tall. I have no doubt that a hundred years ago they were magnificent specimens. Today the one left standing shows evidence of better years gone by. The fallen one was destroyed from the inside out. It appears some bug or parasite worked at the old soldier, took out the inner strength, and one day the chinook winds howled and took him down.
When I think of humanity, I recognize vulnerability. We live in a world that puts more and more emphasis on the uncontrollable. Almost all topics of debate have two sides. The tree the parasites have taken down had as much right to stand as did the other that remains standing. We refer to that as nature. We say the tree isn’t affected; but we are. True. I would prefer that the fallen tree were still standing. Such a state of affairs would, however, tell a different story. It would leave almost nothing for debate. It would just be two trees…each a little larger than the thousand others in the woods. Now it’s a fallen soldier…with a story to tell.
In the forthcoming articles in this blog, I hope to study, along with my readers, some topics that often go unnoticed. Topics that inspire us to carry on. We have plenty of negatives to focus on. We have an abundance of frivolous attempts at appearing joyful. A joyful persona is commendable, just like a young sapling that complements the forest with vitality and vigour.
Proverbs 23:7. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”
Our thoughts affect how we act. But this action is superficial. We need to temper our thoughts with honesty. Refusal to face truth does not cause truth to leave. When we relax in surrendering, it is there we can learn to trust. It is there that truth comforts us. My two fir trees can do nothing about their situation. The one tells a story by living. The one in death.
Proverbs 3:5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
If and when you decide to subscribe to this blog, be assured I’m not inclined to debate or argument, nor to define right from wrong. Rather my inclination is to stimulate thought.
If you follow me, you will learn that I am not a saint. I have character flaws. I am in fact a typical human being. I do have an acute interest in my fellow human beings. I truly believe that there is a work in which we can all have a part. We can spread goodwill. We can encourage right and discourage wrong.
Let’s all do a little good today! See you next time.
