Wednesday, October 26, 2022

“The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center.” (Revelation 22:2, The Message Bible)

                 The willow tree which stood in the yard between us and Lake Erie was massive. It looked like one of those trees from a fantasy novel, a formidable tree that knows stuff or is a central piece of folk legends or is a mystical representation of power and life.

                It must have been a very, very old tree. Its trunk was a good ten feet in circumference and it reached thirty to forty feet into the sky. It was sheathed in irregular scales of dark gray bark, with several patches missing along the trunk here and there. There were large nodules and knobs protruding from several places on the trunk and thicker branches. Its canopy of branches and leaves stretched over half the small yard. It looked as if it had braced many a storm off the lake and yet had remained steadfast and unwavering in any and all kinds of weather. It was a tree to be reckoned with.

                Trees play an interesting role in our scriptures. The great Biblical Narrative begins with Trees and ends with a Tree. Trees were a goodly part of God’s Creation and meant for humanity’s benefit: “Then God said, ‘I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food.’” (Genesis 1: 29, The Message) In this bounteous Garden, “the Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden, he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9)

                Of course, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil led to our downfall as humankind. But that issue aside, trees were a good example of abundant living. “Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.” (Proverbs 3:18, New Living Translation) Living under fruit bearing trees was a metaphor of a good and righteous life.  “Instead, you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.” (Psalm 1: 1 -3, The Message)

                Jesus also used the metaphor. “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:20, NLT)

                Paul likewise used this metaphor. He wrote how all those who belong to Jesus Christ, even Gentiles, have been grafted onto the promise of God’s blessing of Israel. “So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.” (Romans 11: 17, NLT) Or as the Message Bible renders the last sentence: “Remember, you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.”

                By the time we get to Revelation we are given a promise that sits in line with what we have briefly and incompletely encountered so far, “To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, NLT) Eden restored; humankind finding our place within its bounty once again. There is that beautiful image then of the Tree of Life, not something lost or forbidden or abandoned, but flourishing, offering nurture for healing, peace, sustenance, and everlasting Life.

                Until then, we attach ourselves to the Vine. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15: 4 – 5, NLT)

                Creaton speaks to us; are we listening?

 Dale

 Wednesday, October 19, 2022

“Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.”  (Hebrews 11: 13 -16, The Message Bible)

                I sometimes wonder whether I have some deep-seated, ancestral sea-faring DNA running though me. There is nothing that I enjoy more than sitting beside a large body of water like an ocean or a Great Lake and watching the horizon stretch out on front of me, almost seemingly endlessly.

                Such was the case during our vacation on the shores of Lake Erie recently. The Lake could be quite moody, sometimes calm and serene but often choppy with  great waves and whitecaps. You could even see the whitecaps in the distance on the horizon. As I watched the horizon, sometimes, something would catch my eye – a soaring Bald Eagle, a majestic Golden Eagle on the hunt, black cormorants, gulls swooping and diving or a fish jumping in the water.  Perhaps a fishing trawler or a laker just on the edge of the horizon or just a small boat with someone fishing. The horizon was seldom dull or static or boring or tame, even on a calm day.

                On a clear day, one could see off in the distance, a far country, some of the distant shoreline of our neighbours to the south, the United States. But mostly, it was just water reaching to the far horizon, as far as the eye could see.

                “I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.” (Proverbs 8:27, New Living Translation)

                Horizons come in many guises.

                To me, life’s horizons are about possibilities, the future, hope, seeking the best-is-yet-to come potential of living with clear vision and steadfast determination. Yes, there are life’s storms that stir the waters between now and then, but even so, the horizon remains steady and beckons us when the storms and winds cease. Generally, I am not a pie-eyed optimist but I strongly affirm that what God has in store, always tantalizing on the horizon of our faith, vision and hearts, is worth the wait.

                Our text above speaks of those who knew of this sacred horizon and saw across the span of time that their new home would be eventually found. They were seeking a far better country than where they found themselves. They were not daunted by the distance between themselves and God’s horizon, for someday the gap between where they were and their true home would be closed.

                The horizon gave them hope for the day. Sometimes, there are reminders of God’s promise which break the horizon like a soaring eagle. “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”  Isiah 40:31, New Living Translation) Or a beautiful sunset - we saw several breath-taking ones – which reminds one of the abundant creativity of God’s hand on our world, leaving one awe-struck and thankful. No matter what.

                Our living horizons are never dull or static or boring or tame, but full of calling, summoning, beckoning, inviting us to dare walk across the waters (sometimes) and reach for the new City that centers God’s Kingdom, a kingdom of peace, justice, joy, love, mercy, forgiveness and well-being. “Thy kingdom come” – that is the very heart and soul of horizon watching.

                “‘Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.’ The Enthroned continued, ‘Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.’” (Revelation 21: 3 -5, The Message Bible)

Dale