Living in the Culture

We lost a 1/3 of a giant Water Oak last weekend. Unfortunately the 60' 65+ year-old tree is gonna have to come down.

I hate cutting down trees. This old gentleman has been in our back yard for 8 years. Actually he was here long before our house. He has character, but a weak spot allowed rain to pour into his trunk and weaken him.

I wonder what type of tree provided the cross for Jesus on Good Friday. Was it an old tree? Did it splinter? Did the tree have any idea God's very own Son would hang from it? Why did the Roman's pick this tree? How did they know which one was the right tree? Was it a noble tree with character like ours? Did God know when He created it that it would bear His Son?

Being nailed to a tree is a humiliating act. This is a tree that Jesus embraced, unlike the fig tree outside Jerusalem that He cursed. I wonder if the tree had any idea the the very Son of glory would one day hang from his branches? This tree would become a sign of hope for the world. It held God's Son and the sins of humanity. Of all the trees in the world, this tree was the strongest. Good Friday approaches. The faithful wait, breathless, anticipating the cruelty that's coming. The tree awaits and groans for all humanity.