I saw this tree while taking a walk around the office park on my lunch break Friday. Take a look at it and you’ll see why it captivated me: the entire tree has turned yellow except that one branch that still holds on to green leaves. So how do you interpret this? There are two ways.
One is to say that green branch is a symbol of the hope of life. This tree is fixing to go dormant, and will drop those leaves in the next few weeks. That one green branch is both the memory of life this past summer, and life to come again next spring. Hope always remains.
The other is to say that the branch is a failure to let go of the past. That branch does run the risk of dying in a frost or freeze since it isn’t “winterizing” with the rest of the tree. It’s next to the building and has been protected from it’s own failure to adapt so far, but how long will that luck hold? Why doesn’t it let go and protect itself for the coming dormant season?
Eventually, it will follow the present season. That branch will either turn, or it will die. Only time and chance will determine if holding on to life will result in later adaptation, or natural pruning through the death of that branch and the growth of a new one. Either way, new life will come to that tree come spring.
Perhaps it seems silly to see so much symbolism in a small tree, but I think it’s oddly appropriate this Thanksgiving week. It’s a reminder that life is change, and new seasons will always come. We stand through a lot, but the point is that we learn and grow in the face of these changes. Grief comes from clinging to anything other than hope for grace and blessings for the present and future that the Lord is providing.
I decided that this tree gives me a lesson that hope always remains, if we remain true in faith. New life will come in new seasons. It always does. It’s natural to grieve what’s passed, but we should also be excited about what’s to come. Good things can and will happen if we walk in the Holy Spirit, if we remain true, if we maintain purity of heart, and if we don’t grow weary of doing good.
Deep ponderings perhaps, but isn’t that part of what the holidays are about? As we move through this season of giving thanks, giving to others, and resolving to do better in the new year, let’s also reflect on what we’ve learned along the journey, and trust in that wisdom to take us to the blessing of future seasons.
That’s all today. Take care. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Bye!
One is to say that green branch is a symbol of the hope of life. This tree is fixing to go dormant, and will drop those leaves in the next few weeks. That one green branch is both the memory of life this past summer, and life to come again next spring. Hope always remains.
The other is to say that the branch is a failure to let go of the past. That branch does run the risk of dying in a frost or freeze since it isn’t “winterizing” with the rest of the tree. It’s next to the building and has been protected from it’s own failure to adapt so far, but how long will that luck hold? Why doesn’t it let go and protect itself for the coming dormant season?
Eventually, it will follow the present season. That branch will either turn, or it will die. Only time and chance will determine if holding on to life will result in later adaptation, or natural pruning through the death of that branch and the growth of a new one. Either way, new life will come to that tree come spring.
Perhaps it seems silly to see so much symbolism in a small tree, but I think it’s oddly appropriate this Thanksgiving week. It’s a reminder that life is change, and new seasons will always come. We stand through a lot, but the point is that we learn and grow in the face of these changes. Grief comes from clinging to anything other than hope for grace and blessings for the present and future that the Lord is providing.
I decided that this tree gives me a lesson that hope always remains, if we remain true in faith. New life will come in new seasons. It always does. It’s natural to grieve what’s passed, but we should also be excited about what’s to come. Good things can and will happen if we walk in the Holy Spirit, if we remain true, if we maintain purity of heart, and if we don’t grow weary of doing good.
Deep ponderings perhaps, but isn’t that part of what the holidays are about? As we move through this season of giving thanks, giving to others, and resolving to do better in the new year, let’s also reflect on what we’ve learned along the journey, and trust in that wisdom to take us to the blessing of future seasons.
That’s all today. Take care. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Bye!
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