Seasons Greetings!!
(adapted from Richard Wurmbrandt’s “In the Face llc credit of Surrender”).There were three trees growing by the Sea of Galilee . Being of same age they were good friends. Early in life they made a covenant – we must not grow old, decay and fall, rather be used for a great purpose. It is better to die young and be used ever after rather than decay and fall off because of age.
Accordingly, the first tree hoped being humble, “I like to serve the people of Galilee ”. This tree grew to be ugly and twisted. It had was broad and gnarled. Those who looked at it said, “Only way this can be used is by being turned into a manger that feeds the beasts of burden who do so much work for the people”. The second tree said, “While I like to serve I also like adventure and achieve much and make a name. I’d rather be a boat in the Sea of Galilee “. It grew to be a fine strong straight tree and was turned into a boat. The third tree said, “My friends are lowly minded with no great vision. I settle for nothing less than being the throne or the bed for a great king”. However for many years the third tree grew slowly and did not attain much height. It was as if God heard the proud heart and taught it a lesson. They knew not how strangely their wishes would come true.
After some years, the first tree was logged, and sent to Bethlehem and there it was made into a feeding trough. It served many years in an unknown innkeeper’s cattle shed surrounded only by straw and dung. Being lowly, the logs were happy in that state of service. Then one night, the inn was overflowing with people and the innkeeper, in haste brought two peasants and their donkey. The liberty financial personal loans lady was great with child – lo! Soon she gave birth to the Greatest Ever and the lowly manger was used as the cradle of the new born King and thus became the most famous manger ever!!
The second tree became a boat by the Sea of Galilee . It had many great adventures and much rough handling at the hands of the Big Fisherman who owned the boat. Then one day A Great Carpenter sat on the boat, appreciated its craftsmanship – And He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, He asked him to thrust out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people out of the boat Luk 5:3. On that day the greatest career anyone could have was launched for the Master Fisherman by the Carpenter of Galilee.
The ambitious third tree was logged and sent to Jerusalem . There it lay for many years with no use. It got wet in the rain and dried in the sun. Its lofty pride was gradually dwindling. The tree thought, “after all I’ll only decay”. One day, in great haste its two logs were taken together, to an important place – The Roman Governor’s abode. The tree thought, “It’s worth waiting. My long dormant desire is about to come true – to be in royal company. The best is last”. The wish was fulfilled in a most unexpected manner. To the great dismay of the tree, the logs were crossed and thrust upon a Man bloodied beyond recognition. Truly the tree became the bed for the last few hours of the Son of God and the throne of mercy on which Jesus, the King of redemption hung – the Famed Tree of Calvary .
Which way will you GO?