A man slowly walked through the woods. The air was cold and the leaves were vibrant with color. His steps were heavy as he made his way to the base of a large tree.
The bark was dark and coarse and its branches were thick and strong. The man spoke to the tree, “Tell me of your life, so that I may make sense of my own.”
The tree replied, “I started as a small seed. All that I was to become was contained in that small speck. With the gift of light, soil, and rain, life burst forth! In the spring I was fully alive - proud of who I was and full of possibilities. My tender branches were covered in white blooms. It was beautiful. But the flowers did not last.
I became consumed with growing, thriving, producing. My veins began to fill with envy. My flowers were gone and all that remained were green leaves. I looked around and realized I was just like all of the other trees in the forest.
Eventually, the cool winds came and with them the sobering promise of death. It was then that I realized that I was hiding who I truly was. Slowly I pushed the greed, pride and envy from my life. As I did, the true colors that God had put inside that seed, started to show.”
The man looked in wonder at the beautiful red leaves and said, “These are wise words indeed. I must amend my life, so I too can be as God intended.”
The tree sighed, “Many have tried, but it is so very difficult to go against your fallen nature. Even I was unable to change until the cold wind touched my branches. However, looking back, I was able to see all of the fruit that was produced during those hot days of labor. It was food for many. God used my foolishness to serve His great purposes.”
“So what am I to do?” asked the man.
“Live”, said the tree. “Let all that you are, strength and weakness, joy and sorrow, consolation and desolation serve our great creator!”
The man thanked the tree and continued down the path he had begun, noticing his steps seemed slightly lighter than before.
