The Tree (Job 14:7)

A tree,

planted in the desert, the bark stripped raw from

the winds

and sand.

She waits in the dry seasons for

the rain;

her roots

cling to what little solid ground lies underneath the shifting surface.

Her eyes sting from

the sand;

tears may fall but

her roots

do not give way, even when attacked by

the wind.

Her hope

comes with the scent of

rain.

And yet, the glisten in her eye is always there to guide her laughter on

the wind.

And when the drought ends, she drinks deeply of

the rain

and is restored again.

A tree

always has hope, for when it is cut down by

the wind,or exhausted by

the sand,

it will grow again, and it’s new

roots

will not fail.

They are rooted

in a Love

that does not die.

This tree

will dance forevermore.

*I wrote this for a dear friend who has inspired me to take life as the Lord brings it to me, to laugh at it, to Love in it, and to dance because of it. And above all, to always have hope, because the Lord is gracious to restore abundant life. Thank you, Lauren.

Look at the Acorn

She looked out her window- the rain’s pouring down. Only five minutes ago the sun was shining and the birds were singing joyfully. No songs could be heard now, only the pitter-patter of the rain on the window and the occasional deafening thunderclap. The oak tree outside her window blew back and forth in the raging wind, receiving no mercy from the storm, or so it seemed. A stray acorn hit the glass pane, startling her, and then fell to the ground. It rolled along the rocks, through the mud, until it finally settled in a puddle of water, battered and scarred by the relentless wind. She watched as it bobbed up and down, seeming to never find rest. A flash of lightning shook the window-pane, illuminating the broad oak tree’s silhouette against the sky. Its strength was allowing it to weather the storm and remain firmly planted. To think, it was once a helpless acorn. The sky began to clear, and she looked down once again at the acorn, now resting in a patch of grass and protected from the running water. It was safe. Through all of its struggles and failed attempts of success, it never once doubted it would make it through. And though its growth will take time and will be hindered by various circumstances, that acorn will most assuredly become an oak tree, perfect in strength and form, and capable of withstanding all types of storms.

Often we ask God what His reasons and motives are in our lives. Why am I going through this? Why do I feel this way? Or, why does this hurt so much? His answer to our questions is always, “Trust in me. Look at the acorn, and trust in me.”