Tree 1 – 0 Orange Bulldozer Thingy

As I look out our window today being able to see as far across town as the eye can carry, you wouldn’t believe only yesterday my sight was blocked by high rise buildings and trees. I watched all morning as the workmen in their florescent yellow jackets and hard hats pushed, pulled and bulldozed away everything in their path to make way for whatever it is they are planning on replacing it with. Today they moved or should I say massacred the last of the trees, not a breath of nature can be seen now...just a big mess.

This morning on the menu was the chomping up of the trees. It was quite a sight to watch and for us not a sight you see every day. I watched as these machines just snapped, cracked, pulled and deposited these well established trees with such EASE! Like they were tooth picks! Just torn straight up out of the ground, roots and all! I was amazed how shallow these great trees’ roots had gone, one after the other yanked up out of the ground. The work man controlling the great orange beast looked gleefully on at his handiwork. It was pretty impressive I must admit; executed with skill achieving the quickest result.

He got to the final tree. This one looked different from the rest, stronger, more upright with its proud branches stretching up towards the heavens. I’m not sure whether at this point the workman saw me watching from the window of our flat, from across the road, but he looked at me straight in the eye and smiled... I quickly ducked out of sight, I’m not sure why?! I was in my PJs, hair all tribal and had been watching for an embarrassingly long time...SO! my reaction was ‘duck!’. Anyhoo, as I re-emerged feeling rather silly and slightly rosy in the cheek department the workman and his menacing orange companion was already stood in position. The tree looked almost in mock as if to say ‘HA! Do your worst my lofty friend!’ The machine began its approach, pincers releasing parts of its previous victims from its teeth as it moved. It grabbed the tree and slowly broke off every branch it had with a loud crack for each. At this point my heart ached for this poor tree, I don’t know why and some may think I’m being slightly irrational but it just seemed a sad sight to see. I’ve woken up and looked out of my window every morning and there was this tree letting with me know with its wet leaves or snowy covered tips or glistening branches each element of the season for years. I watched the birds in the sky scatter at each loud CRACK and fly on as if it was just a blip in their busy little schedules.

The shiny pincers this time grabbed the tree at its middle and gave a great pull in the direction away from the road, to protect us busybodies I assume. I expected to suddenly see its base high in the air within seconds, as with the rest but NO! Another heave was made to uproot it but still to no avail, I could have sworn at this point I saw this workman give a quick glance in my direction. His face contorted as he once again made another attempt, this time trying to bend the tree at the same time. He was NOT giving up, pulling harder and harder, the great red tape of health and safety seemed to fly out the window, a seeming matter of pride! Finally a spray of liquid shot into the air and the pincers of the machine gave a groan as it deflated into a metal heap on the soil of its victims. I was left a bit confused but I’m assuming something broke because the workman’s face seemed defeated as he wearily climbed down from his mount.

Do you know what the problem was? The trees roots were just too deep. No matter how many branches were broken, no matter how hard it was pushed, pulled and cracked, it suffered much damage but it just could not be pulled from its roots. I’ve heard that if that tree is left there now, its branches will grow again, its leaves will bud and spread and once again it will stand proudly, branches stretched upwards and its roots even deeper from the lesson learnt. That great orange beast of a machine was SO powerful, it had destroyed everything else in its path but I began to ponder on how so much more powerful God is and yet He doesn’t use His power in anger against His children. He’s slow to anger, quick to forgive, patient, loving and Fatherly in nature. Satan so often tries to uproot the trees of God, the people of this earth and very often thinks he’s succeeded, but those who put their trust and love in God...

‘...shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water,
ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or
wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].’ Psalm 1:3.

Their roots will go ever down in Christ never to be uprooted by the wiles of the enemy, by life’s pulls, pushes and pains. Mistakes are learnt from and forgiven as if they never took place, loneliness is met with comfort and weaknesses met with strength to persevere. When we trust that God has us in His merciful sight, captivated in His love and upheld in His light WE are those trees firmly planted as described and His word keeps us there; watering our roots and giving us food that we won’t EVER hunger or fear for plans of the future. And if we fall, we merely RISE! Stronger, taller and roots ever deeper from seeing the MERCY of our Lord.

Not quite sure where you’re heading? Have no fear! His plan for you is GREAT, unmatched, unpredictable and PERFECTLY timed!

...and no great orange machine thingy, whatever this may symbolise in your life :) will stand in your way...not because of YOUR strength, YOUR achievements or lack thereof... but because HE loves and lives!!

[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and
relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.

- Jeremiah 17:7-8