Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Late Bloomer

Spring has come late to my neck of the woods. All of our trees have been several weeks late in exchanging their dry winter browns for the greens of spring.

We have one tree in particular that has been lagging behind the rest. Which means it seems like it is never ever going to be green. In fact it still has more dead seed pods on its branches than it has green sprouting leaves. The fact we live across the street from a gorgeously greening blossoming park is not helping matters.

This tree has stayed dormant for so long we thought it was dead. I was honestly thinking of getting out pruning shears or a chainsaw –whichever I could find first- to cut into it to see if it were still alive. I couldn’t figure out what its deal was. The Aspen close to it is filling out quite nicely this year. It is taller, fuller and quite beautiful. The Japanese Maple on the other end of the yard is an absolutely brilliant rich red in all of its glory.

But last week was the first sign of life on the tree in question. Just in time too I was beginning to wonder what its problem was. Why didn’t it just get with the program? Did this tree not know it was spring? Did this tree not care what an eyesore it was? Does it not know I am looking forward to its shade? Did this tree not know that the biggest festival of the year is coming up this weekend in the park across the street? Does it not know how hard it is to sell a house with a dead tree in the front yard?

The tree doesn’t really seem to be bothered by me, and my questioning of it. It doesn’t seem to be jealous or hurried by the other trees in the yard. It seems to be very confident in its timetable.

Perhaps it stayed dormant this long out of self preservation. In the tree’s defense it did snow here about a month ago. Perhaps it stayed dormant so it didn’t get hurt, or lose its limbs.

Whatever its reasoning I do know that when it does blossom it is absolutely beautiful and it provides the largest amount of shade for us. Perhaps that is why I so want it to bloom because I know its full potential.
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This is the thought that I had this weekend – Jealousy and bitterness robs us of the Hope and Anticipation of what God is going to do in us and through us.

I have decided instead of focusing on what has happened in the past and on things that others are able or ‘getting’ to do that I need to start praying into what The Lord wants to do through me in the future, but I can’t do that if I my thoughts are a quagmire jealousy and bitterness. I am determined to have thoughts that are focused on Hope and Anticipation. (even if it kills me) Winky 2






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