The Olive Tree

 “Keep your roots deep in Christ, trust Him, and become stronger in your faith.” ~ Colossians 2:6-7

When Joel moved to Rancho Mirage, he was horrified at the ugly trees lining the streets.  They were creepy looking.  Their gnarled trunks looked cadaverous; perhaps centuries old.

“How could it be?” he wondered, “that despite the persistently long and rain-free months, these trees managed to thrive?”  It would take some discovery to learn her secrets.

It turns out there was much more to the olive tree than he encountered at first glance.

The olive tree is mentioned more than 30 times in both the Old and New Testaments. It starts bearing fruit at around five years of age. A Croatian tree has been carbon-dated to around 400 A.D. and still produces abundant fruit today.

Olive trees can grow in almost any soil.  They have deep roots that tap the water which runs far beneath the soil. Its leaves also draw in and retain the moisture of the early morning dew.  That small daily moisture is essential for the nurturing and growth of the olives.  

These two factors help create a tree that can produce fruit in the blistering summer heat, and give abundantly at harvest time in autumn when all else seems barren.  Her endurance brought to mind a passage from Paul’s letter to the Colossians (above).

The world is often a difficult and challenging place.  Yet, we’re called to be just like the olive tree, to let our roots reach down, to deepen our relationship with God and humanity so that we can receive life-sustaining nourishment and reassurance.

And just as the olive tree gratefully receives the early morning dew, we too need to be aware of the gifts of grace that God provides to strengthen us - whether that gift lies in a friendly smile, a kind word, the advice of a caring friend, the unquestioning hospitality of a stranger or even aid from an ‘enemy’ at a moment of personal peril.

Daily newspapers, TVs, and the internet increasingly spread depressing news to info-hungry, consumerist societies.  “News” outlets often propagate graphic, sometimes mind-numbing details about victims’ pain, bereavement, anger, and suffering.  It’s so easy to give in, voice despair, turn bitter, and slump into defeat.

Being faithful disciples in a broken, wounded, bleeding world is an arduous task.  We must sharpen our senses to perceive God’s presence even when so much around us seems to deny it and develop the tools necessary to fight for our faith.

Since he’d done his homework about the olive tree’s history, Joel’s opinion changed.  He fell in love with the gnarled tree and all that it stood for, so much so that he planted a Dwarf Olive outside his back door.  It reminds him to smile and give thanks for God’s blessings: peace, prosperity, wisdom, and honor.  

Father God, thank You for reminding us that true beauty comes from within.  Help us to become more like olive trees - to share our lives, generosity, time, and the fruits of our labors with all who need them.  Amen

A Thankful Heart

 “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances." ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Grumpy didn’t come close to describing Colleen’s mood. Being a CAN (Certified Nursing Assistant) was hard enough, but especially difficult today knowing her family would soon gather around the table for their traditional holiday feast without her. CNAs have many of the same responsibilities as nurses, but with less recognition and much lower pay.  So yes, grumpiness was her pet dragon.  It sure would help if things around here were less depressing.

In the beds here lie everyone's future unless they’re lucky enough to pass at home. Most are well past their useful years. The happy and healthy years are but distant memories. A woman, her eyes once sparkled at a beautiful Christmas tree as she eyed gaily wrapped gifts. Now when alone, she lets her face sag with gravity, reserving her strength to smile for infrequent visitors.

A man whose feet have known the streets of Rome and the sidewalks of New York. He’d loved without boundaries and donated money when he should have kept it for himself. That person is still in there, locked in a body that won't quit, tethered to a heart that insists on beating despite little chance of recovery. Where’s the dignity in that, she wondered.

A new patient arrived in room 1207, so Colleen stopped in to make her acquaintance. The nonagenarian grinned as she entered. Her smile twinkled as if greeting a beloved daughter.

Colleen reciprocated in her own way, a smile limited to her mouth, unsure of what happens next and wary of being drawn into a conversation she didn’t have time for. "Hello, ma’am” she offered. “And you are?"

“Sadie Reimer,” she said enthusiastically. “I’m pleased to meet you and anxious to get started!”

Collen gazed down at the woman’s missing lower limbs, both amputated from diabetes. The stumps had healed and she was at the care center anxious to walk again. Colleen helped her stand up.  Sadie took only a few steps before flopping back down on the bed.

Her smile returned more radiant than before. “Imagine me at ninety learning to walk again. Now that’s something you don’t see every day I’ll bet. I’m so blessed!”

Colleen couldn’t believe it! Sadie found humor in her situation! Instead of immersing herself in self-pity, Sadie focused on what she could still do, approaching her life day as the loving do, with open eyes, an eager resolve, and a deep sense of gratitude.

We should all observe Thanksgiving with a grateful heart for food in a world where many walk in hunger; for faith in a world where many walk in fear; for friends in a world where many walk alone. We give you thanks, O Lord for our many gifts!

Lord, how can we ever thank You enough? You endured more pain, shame, sorrow, and grief than we can possibly fathom. Help us remember why You gave Your life. Because of love. Because of mercy. Because we desperately need them both. Amen 

Unusual Sentence

 “Forgive each other, just as Christ has forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:32

At 15, Jason got arrested with friends lobbing eggs at a classmate’s house.  He was arrested just four months later as the lookout for some older guys who’d broken into a grocery store to steal some alcoholic drinks.  Stupid kid stuff.

A year later, now old enough for a driver’s license, he reached into an empty car and took the keys from the ashtray.  After joyriding for an hour or so, Jason got pulled over by the police. 

Auto theft is a felony.  He pled to a lesser charge - placed on probation plus community service and a $450 fine.  But he now faced a new problem.  A criminal record made it almost impossible to find decent employment.  Even lower-paying jobs now required background checks.

He survived on savings and the generosity of friends.  A lady from his church brought occasional meals; a friend tucked $50 into a Thanksgiving card; another friend allowed him to sleep in his abandoned farmhouse.  Not the future he’d once envisioned as a “productive member of society.”

Even before his probation expired, Jack entered a jewelry store under the ruse of looking for an engagement ring.  When they pulled out the box, he grabbed it and ran out.  He made it about six blocks before officers stopped him.  Jack fled.  The officers knocked him down, handcuffed him, and charged him with larceny and resisting arrest.

Prior to sentencing, Levi Sherman, the jewelry store owner, was asked to write a Victim’s Impact Statement to be read at Jason’s court hearing.  It was intended to describe how the defendant's actions and resulting trauma had affected his emotional, financial, and spiritual well-being.

Mr. Sherman rose from his chair and stood alone behind the courtroom lectern.  His voice cracked with hesitancy as he described the robbery, characterizing Jack as polite, nervous, and clumsy.  “Without a weapon; I don’t think he’d thought through it clearly,” he added sympathetically.  “Jason seemed down on his luck.”

“Judge” he continued, “we know from research that stable employment is an important predictor of successful re-entry and desistance from crime.  I own another business, one that loads and unloads trucks.  With the court’s permission, I prefer he NOT to be punished in the usual way.  I’d rather help him turn his life around by giving him a chance to earn a living.”

An astonished Judge stared down at Mr. Sherman.  After a moment, he cleared his throat.  If this is your sincere desire wish, and without coercion, I’ll grant your wish.”

“It is, your Honor,” he replied.”

“Let it be so ordered, the Judge said and pounded his gavel.

Jack’s brain stuttered for a moment while his emotions caught up.  Tears fell off his cheeks as a smile spread across his face.  He would NOT let Mr. Sherman or himself down this time.

Father God, help me bless those who have hurt me and walk in righteousness, peace, and joy.  I want to be kinder and more compassionate, forgiving others, just as You unconditionally forgave me.  Amen

Bless This Child

 “Don’t scold your children so much that they become discouraged and quit trying.” ~ Colossians 3:21

Byron watched his 4-year-old son Liam sleep; one tiny hand crumpled under his cheek, blond curls sticking to his damp forehead.  Moments ago, as he relaxed reading a newspaper in the den, a stifling wave of remorse engulfed him.  Guiltily he now stood by Liam’s bedside.

Earlier at the convenience store, Liam accidentally spilled a Slushie … everywhere.  As if in slow motion, red, white, and blue goo immediately covered the floor and merchandise far and wide, high and low.

That was the tipping point for Byron.  He snarled “Now look what’s happened,” annoyance clear in his voice.  The boy started crying and apologizing.  Shaken and ashamed, Liam bent over to pick up the now-empty cup, lost his balance, and proceeded to fall into the middle of the colorful slime.

The child said nothing but ran across in one unpredictable plunge, threw his arms around Byron’s neck, and hugged him with a God-like affection from his youthful heart; one which even anger could not wither.

Byron looked down upon the angelic figure laying on the bed beside him.  A terrible sickening fear came over him.  “What’s wrong with me?” he wondered.  “Do I have a habit of finding fault, of scolding simply because he’s a little boy?  Am I gaging him by the yardstick of my own years?”

“Clearly, Liam, I’m not perfect.  I make mistakes. I get grumpy when I’m tired. I should never take it out on you.”

“There is so much good and fine and true in your character.  Your little heart is as big as the dawn itself, shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush over and hug me, despite my behavior.  I came to your bedside in this darkness, and knelt here, ashamed!”

“It’s a feeble atonement; I knew you wouldn’t understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours.  But tomorrow I will be a real daddy!  I will hang with you, and suffer when you suffer and laugh when you laugh.  I’ll bite my tongue when impatient words come.  I will keep reminding myself: “You’re only a little boy – a gift to be cherished!”

We all want our kids to be perfect.  Sure, we must guide them and teach them.  We can’t let everything slide, let every misdemeanor go unnoticed and unaddressed.  Otherwise, they might never learn right from wrong.

But if we adults, with years of experience in life are allowed to make mistakes, to act out at times, to learn and move on, then our kids who’re going through all of this for the first time with much less understanding of themselves to draw upon are certainly allowed some leeway.

Heavenly Father, help me understand that my children face struggles I never had to at their ages because of the numerous ways our world has changed. Help me to see them as who You designed them to be – a sacred gift.  Amen

Teeing It Up for Veterans

 “Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against all enemies." ~ Ephesians 6:11

Golf is an honorable game. It’s a sport of courtesy, integrity, and respect which aligns perfectly with military service values. What follows is a true story, verified by a number of sources.

He arrived at the course early, hit a bucket of balls, and practiced his skills on the putting green. The starter matched him with three players he’d had never met. Ben Woods rode with his wife in the golf cart.  He had an enormous golf bag with his name stitched on it. It also said: “Wounded War Veteran” in smaller print.

After a few holes, the conversation turned toward his military service. While he declined to discuss his combat experience, he did reveal that he’d spent over a year in an army rehabilitation hospital in San Antonio.  His wife moved there to be with him and he was released only recently.

A pristine set of clubs suggested he was new to golf.  The quiet, humble guy admitted this was his first full round of a sport he hoped to excel at someday. As part of the hospital’s discharge process, Ping provided him with three days of golf instruction, a golf bag, and a new set of custom-fitted clubs.

Ping, a world-class manufacturer of golf equipment, donates about 50 full sets of golf clubs annually for the Wounded Warrior program. They also offer special rebates to members of the military as a “Thank You” for their service.  They have the good judgment not to advertise this.

"We’ve learned over the 50+ years we've been helping disabled veterans, that they need sports and recreation to get their lives back together," said Kirk Bauer of Disabled Sports USA and a Vietnam War amputee.

Whether it be learning the game, working to improve their skills, enjoying a sense of normalcy in their lives, visiting new places and golf courses, or knowing that they can play a physical game even with physical limitations, golf brings a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

For veterans dealing with PTSD, golf can be particularly helpful. The relaxed pace and social nature of the game can help ease anxiety and provide a distraction from intrusive thoughts. Being outside and with good company can also be highly therapeutic.

God bless America and the game of golf!

First celebrated as Armistice Day, November 11^th marked the end of World War I (recognized on the “11^th hour, of the 11^th day, of the 11^th month” in 1918). It changed to Veterans Day in 1947 - a time for us to pay our respects to all those who’ve served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our heroic veterans.  Thank you all, past and present.

God of Peace, we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess.  We ask You to bless the members of our armed forces. Give them courage, hope, and strength. May they forever experience Your support, love, and healing. Amen

Make a Difference

 “We’re called to be good stewards of the Earth; not to waste and to care for our planet.” ~ B. Haglund

Amelia had missed this beach.  At daylight, the sand cast a golden hue, almost earthen and muted.  She missed the driftwood arriving on buoyant waves as tiny rescue vessels.  Then there was also the seaweed, the deeply-green flora of those salty waters, and the tall dune grass that whispered so sweetly into the gusting breeze.  After two years of masks, vaccines, and quarantines, she was so ready for a morning run along the seashore.

Instead of more beauty than the soul could absorb, Amelia was shocked at the amount of trash littering the area.  Water and alcohol bottles, plastic bags, cigarette butts, and food packaging.  Disgusting didn’t even come close to describing the scene.

Add a whole new category of repugnant litter: discarded face masks, sanitizing wipes, and latex gloves used to keep COVID at bay.  Because they're not biodegradable or able to be recycled, masks and gloves may end up in bodies of water or swallowed by marine creatures.

Up ahead, something caught her attention - a man and woman with big plastic bags were picking up the beach’s junk.  At first, Amelia thought they might be cleaning up after their own party but soon realized that wasn’t the case.  So, she approached the woman who introduced herself as Birgit in a thick German accent.

“I came out this morning hunting for seashells and found the coast filthy,” Birgit explained.  “I don’t want to spend my vacation surrounded by garbage.  So, I clean it!”

Amelia felt shame immediately.  She joined the woman and helped clean the beach well into late afternoon.  They even fished a few pieces of garbage out of the water’s edge.  A handful of others also joined in, proving that one kind gesture often multiplies itself.  

Tired but happy, they placed their “treasures” into an empty trash can.  But not before glancing out at an amazing sunset, perhaps made more beautiful by God, and His Angels casting down an appreciative sign.

At times this world’s problems can seem overwhelming.  You wonder what can be done to make a difference.  But the truth is EVERYTHING you do makes a difference!  The average American creates almost 5 pounds of waste every single day.  Every time you stoop to pick up a single piece of trash you make a difference in God’s world.

Every smile you share makes a difference.  Every helping hand you extend makes a difference. Every prayer you pray makes a difference.  Every kind word you say makes a difference.  Every loving thought you think, every hug you share, every flower you plant, every animal you save, everything you do, no matter how small, makes a difference in this world.

Lord, grant us the wisdom to care for the earth and protect it.  Help us to act now for the good of future generations and all your creatures.  Make us all instruments of a new creation, founded on the promise of your love.  Amen

The Gift of Loneliness

“Surely I’m with you always, to the very end of time." ~ Matthew 28:20

Andee (28) lost her husband in a terrible accident.  So, loneliness was something she’d come to know pretty well. 

She didn’t admit that to elicit sympathy, but more as simply a matter of fact.  In reality, she enjoyed a wonderful life with her infant daughter, but she often thought about what it would be like to watch a movie on the couch with her husband rather than alone.

At first, single life was panic attacks and crushing solitude.  It felt shameful - like failure and rejection.  Almost as if society had labeled her ‘defective.’  Now after three years, and with the help of her church’s “Singles Mingle,” Andee was finding a calmer, more peaceful center.  The universe had gifted her time to heal and there was a fresh perspective.

Tonight, at the bi-monthly Singles discussion group, something escaped from her mouth, that had never crossed her mind before – at least consciously.

“We sometimes think of loneliness as a negative thing, but it’s actually a gift of sorts.  For me, loneliness has actually been one of my greatest blessings.  It has taught me to rely on God in a way I don’t know that I would’ve learned otherwise.”

On the drive home, she reflected on her startling comment. The craziest part of those words?  She meant them.  Andee felt them deep within her soul.

Her mind flashed back to points of deepest loneliness and she didn’t actually think of herself as alone.  Instead, she thought of how deeply she came to know God in those sacred moments.

Lonely feelings transformed into confident contentment with solitude.  Failures became a chance to learn new ways of living and behaving.  Shame was a label she dismissed because it never fit.

The next day, Andee got a text from a woman who’d been in the group the previous night.  She said, “Thought about last night: l-ONE-ly ... the root word is ONE (instead of lone!)  When we’re lonely, it gives us the opportunity to be ONE with ourselves and with our Heavenly Father.”

“It provides an opportunity to realign ourselves with our Savior’s plan for us.  It gives us a chance to slow down and think about what we can do better in following Him.  What a blessing!  From now on, I’ll look at being lonely in a whole different way!”

Andee thought about her late husband - the best relationship to date in her life.  It’d been cherished because of the time spent one-on-one, in deep conversation, and working through hard things together.

The same is true for God.  It’s by spending time alone with Him, communicating in stillness, and going through hard times together that she’d come to count Him as her dearest friend.

Loving God, thank You for never forgetting us in the midst of our pain and struggle.  Forgive us for doubting You.  We set our eyes on You today, choosing joy and peace when the whispered lies suggest that we should have neither.   Amen