Talk of the Trees

The Wind ran through the trees, skipping in and out of the sunlight, dancing in uneven rhythm as it played with the needles and leaves. The Pines laughed as their branches bobbed up and down, the lapping creek joining in the mirth. It was a beautiful day - an idyllic scene; everyone was reflecting the glory of the Creator - even Pial Pine who was the tallest of the tall trees, and sometimes found it difficult to move on account of his size. He swayed back and forth, enjoying today’s song to the Creator.

A sudden hush came over the forest, as the snapping of twigs on the footpath grew louder. Who could that be? Pial wondered. No one has ventured this far in years! The trees had nearly forgotten the sound of man - the rich tones of his voice. Pial quickly shook his branches and sent remnants of the past sailing: dead needles, clumps of moss, and straw gathered by birds who stayed with him now and then. He shook himself clean, then stood as straight and as tall as his trunk would allow. He wanted to be at his finest for the Creator’s sons and daughters, who bore the image of their Father. They didn’t always act royally, but royalty they were.

He missed their visits, which were so rare now - missed hearing them hum or talk or marvel at the beauty of the creation. He felt proud when their love for God grew, simply by seeing His beauty and majesty in the forest: the vibrancy and joy of the Creek, the fortitude of the Rocks, the grandeur of the Trees. They all got to tell part of His story, just as the sons and daughters did. So Pial was ready to play his part. He never forgot the Creator’s words in the Letter of Life: “...what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)

As the Prince approached, his slumping shoulders and sad expression conveyed what words could not: brokenness. Pial had seen this look many times before. It was often what led men to the deep part of the woods, where no one could witness the depth of unrest they felt. This was a brokenness that didn’t disappear with a heavy workout, a nice vacation, or even the comforting arms of a loved one. He wasn’t carrying anything, he just looked heavy.

Look up! Pial thought. The Creator is here. We’ll show him to you! See my fine, rich color, and how tall I stand? Listen to the rippling water as it rolls over the Rocks. Feel the warmth of the Sun on your face… these all come from Him, and you do too! It was no use… trees don’t talk!! I have to do something, Pial thought, Men aren’t supposed to live this way. With all the energy he could muster, he shook his heaviest branch, snapping old, dried twigs as they brushed against other branches. Bullseye!! One of the larger ones fell a few feet in front of the Prince, just beyond Pial’s trunk.

Startled, the Prince stopped and looked up. “Wow, that’s a tall tree!!” Pial strained to add one more inch to his height. Looking around, the Prince thought, It’s beautiful here. Taking a deep breath in, he sighed. I guess this is a good place to take a break.

As he sat against Pial’s large, sturdy trunk, some of the tension began to ease. It felt good to sit. The Prince was always walking, always going. The peaceful sound of the Creek was the only noise he heard, and the silence drew his attention to the pain. “God, I don’t know what to do… “

On-Site Savior

Ever had the frustration of working for a boss who was never around? One who gave a lot of directives, but was clueless about the realities of the job? God has given us a lot of direction for life - 66 books of the Bible to point the way - but he’s not ignorant of the challenges we face, or occupied somewhere else in the universe. He’s an on-site Savior.

When Jesus literally left paradise to come down to earth, it was no easy deal. Becoming human, with all its heartache, sickness, and trouble, was a costly endeavor. He subjected himself to the temptations and frustrations of daily life:

In Christ, we have a God who became like us. He knows the struggle. We have an example of how to stand against temptation, and defeat it. (Luke 4:1-13; Mark 14:32-36)

Beyond this, we have a God who is fully present with us: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 John 4:9-15)  Before his death, Jesus prayed this beautiful prayer for those who would believe his message of salvation, passed down from the apostles to us through the centuries:

God lives in and with every believer - ready to comfort, help, guide, teach, empower... and love. We have all the fullness of life we need in him. (John 10:10)  Don't miss it -  God is with you. Are you with him? Does he have your attention and conversation throughout the day? Are you seeking his help and direction in the moment you need it? As Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Do you hear him when he nudges you to love someone in a specific way? He's an on-site savior to walk with you through the journey of life. Let’s enjoy being with him, and spread his love around.

A Useful Life

What is the outcome of all the time and energy we spend in life? Is it meaningful for a moment, a little while, or a little while longer? Is it meaningful at all? When you reach the end of your earthly journey, what will your life yield?

Each of us has the opportunity to connect with a purpose greater than ourselves. God has specifically chosen the place and time in which we live, and granted a season (a lifetime) for us to do all he intends. (Acts 17:26; Psalm 139:13-16; Ephesians 2:10 NIV) We aren’t made to pour all that we have and all that we are into marriage, kids, career, a white picket fence and a nice retirement account. There’s a larger story of God that we’re all called into. We’re not meant to live for ourselves - we’re made for noble purposes.

So, how can our lives be cleansed of living for the mundane, for the wrong things? We give ourselves to God. Say yes to him, and whatever plans he has for your life. If you don’t know him, receive his free gift of salvation in Christ. (Romans 4:4-8, 23-25; 6:23) The “...blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, [will] cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14)

In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul urges the younger believer Timothy to take this message of God’s salvation and share it, even though it would cost him persecution. (2 Timothy 1:8) While many of us don’t face circumstances this severe, we’re still called to follow Christ on his mission “...to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) We’re here to build an eternal, spiritual kingdom, not our own, earthly one. Is your life truly centered around this mission, or something far less significant? When I help someone gain eternal life, I know my time counts.

Paul also tells Timothy to “...pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22b) When our lives are dedicated to walking with God, living his way, and serving others by helping where we can, there’s a richness and fullness to life that can’t be found by serving yourself. You’re made for noble purposes - get busy living! (1 Corinthians 3:1-15)

For more encouragement, visit my blog, "The Word Works": www.kristinspann02.wix.com/spring1

The Real You

Authenticity. It seems so easy, but in practice, it can be very hard. Why did Jesus use a little child as an example of those considered “greatest” in his kingdom? (Luke 9:46-48, NIV) There's an innocence - a raw honesty - to children, that is so easily lost in adulthood. If it were common, he could have drawn anyone from the crowd to illustrate his point - even one of his disciples. But they were too busy arguing over who was the greatest. They were too occupied with thoughts of future honor, powerful positions, and their own conceit. They fell victim to the pull of outward acclamation.

And we do the same.

With hardly a conscious thought, we surround ourselves with walls, don our masks, and present an image we believe others want to see and will approve of. Authenticity gets lost along the way. Children are so openly honest: they live from the inside out. As adults, we learn to filter our speech and actions with wisdom and love. This is good, but filtering them with our perceptions of others’ approval... not so much. I'm practicing the art of living for an audience of one: God.

Since he is truth, living and loving like him means living authentically. It means living from the inside out. This can be hard because it requires undoing a lot of lies we collect in life. For example, if I don't believe at my core that God designed and created me with value (Psalm 139:13-14), I won't want to show the real me. Instead, I'll try to look around to find an image I think others will like, and conform myself to it. When I recognize my worth, though, I have the courage and confidence to be authentic. Honestly, it's kind of an adventure to be who you really are - to say and do things that are uniquely you, even when you don't know how they'll be received. Sometimes I'm not very good at it, but I'm practicing, and it’s freeing!

When we are real, and pursuing God's plan for our lives, many things fall into place. Recognizing God’s unconditional acceptance, we don't have to concern ourselves with pleasing other people. This brings inner rest. We also make stronger and deeper connections with  friends, which yields fullness in life. We all have a purpose to fulfill during our short time on Earth. (Acts 17:6; Psalm 139: Ephesians 2:10) Authenticity enables us live it out, and we're all better for it.