As I write this I’m looking out at the huge oak tree that dominates the North side of our front yard and towers over our home. It’s hundreds of years old.
Tomorrow all that will be left is a stump.
Recently we found out the tree is terminal. Bugs have eaten away and significantly hollowed it out. Most of the damage is on the side facing our neighbors, so we didn’t see it until it was too late. Large limbs are now dying and hanging precariously over our house.
We’re all heartbroken. This tree has sheltered us, kept our house cool, provided limbs for swings for our kids the whole time we’ve lived here. But now it’s become a serious danger and is beyond hope of intervention. It has to go.
I know it’s not a perfect analogy, but I’m thinking of this in relation to our text this week about Noah and the flood. How what started so good and grew so strong became corrupted and ultimately deadly. How God had to drastically intervene to prevent further destruction.
Just like we’re having to do with the tree in our yard. But the good news is small sprouts and seedlings from this magnificent giant are coming up around our yard, almost like it knew what was coming.
Well, I’m going to sit out under the canopy one last time before the crew shows up tomorrow to start their necessary work.
Grace and peace y’all,
John Ray and the teaching team
Text:
Scripture: Genesis 6:5-22, 8:6-12, 9:8-17 Matthew 8:24-27
Lord’s Prayer
Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
