As I sit here trying to talk to God, i am struck by something. In front of me is a grand old tree, probably one of the oldest in the forest. It is as big around as any I have ever seen. I cannot even reach my arms halfway around it, it is so wide. There is a sad truth to this mighty giant though; it has fallen down. It does not look like its end was pretty. the break is terribly jagged and a large piece nearly twice my height still juts skyward. The wood is bent and twisted. The rest of the tree is slowly decauing, returning to the ground that gave it life.
There is one good thing to come from the demise of this mighty tree though. New life is already springing from the ground in the space vacated by the giant tree, life that never would have survived with that large old tree there blocking the light. This new life has been given a chance to become nearly as great as the old tree that has fallen. Though it will never reach the grandeur that was the mighty tree it will get much closer now that it has room to grow and sunlight to feed it.
While recounting this scene another story runs in my head, the story of our savior, who was the greatest of them all. He too was met with a horrible end, all so that we, small and meek compared to Him, could have new life and a chance to live much longer than if He had lived. His demise was brutal as well, very brutal, but He was even able to conquer death and returned to his fater, where he will lovingly watch as we do our best to follow him. Though we will never reach his glory, His sacrifice allows us to get much closer to reaching that glory, just like the old tree in the forest
