"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit..."
Walking through the woods, the ground covered in snow, I shiver, embittered by the subzero temperatures. The snow crunches under my feet, freezing my toes. I walk at a steady pace, desperate for warmth. The crisp, frigid air is stark.
Out of the bleakness of winter, I encounter surprise and joyous wonder. It is in the solitude of the forest, I encounter the resilience of life and beauty of the season. O Christmas Tree. Nothing reinvigorates the senses like the rich smell of evergreens. It stirs the senses and awakens us from winter slumber to remember hope and out of death, a new everlasting life. In Montana, trees grow tall; some thin and frail, others strong and sturdy. It is a survival of the elements with harsh winters and torrid summers, fire and ice, still life persists. The trees that die, reseed and are reborn. They conserve water, provide habitats for countless animals, lichen, bugs...flora and fauna. Their roots create a strong foundation. Trees are used to build houses and tools.
Call me a forest wanderer, still it is hard to stand amongst the trees and not be filled with a slight tingling of wonder and awe for our creator. Something so ordinary as a tree is a life force our flesh relies on. Trees not only absorb carbon pollution, they recycle it into life giving oxygen. The breath of our world. I see God in every tree. God uses the ordinary for extraordinary purposes. He calls the lowly and sinners to repent and in that transformation, the greatest of sinners become His chosen.
Throughout the Hebrew scriptures through the New Testament, God uses the ordinary for the unexpected. Abraham, was the son of an idol maker, Jacob a liar and cheat who ended up becoming 'Israel,' David, the youngest son of a shepherd Jesse...the list of the ordinary to extraordinary and redemption and hope out of error is the foundation of faith. Redemption is coming and has come.
So while, we prepare for Christmas in this Advent season, be revitalized by the life giving breath of a Christmas tree, not as a secular pastime but as a tradition of hope and remembrance of life out of death, love out of hate, redemption. Use the Christmas tree as a family bonding tool, a chance to build memories, reflect on Christmases past and God's work in your life. The tree fits into Advent as a temporary breath, a bridge of life as we wait for our Lord's birth. For trees symbolize life, yet even they break and burn...Christ calls us to an everlasting light, giving us life in body, mind and soul.
The Nation's official Christmas Tree isn't in Washington DC, but in the heart of Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon - General Grant, is one of the oldest and tallest trees around. Every year there is a snow trek to the Nation's Christmas Tree. I find God when I'm in National Parks, Sequoia is a living testimony to God's faithfulness and provision for us!
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/blogs/worth-the-trip/December-Tradition-A-Visit-at-the-Nations-Christmas-Tree-231799161.html
In purchasing a Christmas tree, try to do it eco-consciously. Buying a live Christmas tree is actually better for the environment than an artificial one. Many Christmas tree forests need to be routinely thinned to strengthen the forest. The Christmas Tree is recycled as mulch, bird feeders, fish habitats and much more. The tree is a renewable resource. The Holy Trinity is a constant, eternal source of love and life out of death, spring from winter.
Ways to recycle trees: http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/AllAboutTrees/HowtoRecycle.aspx
Another option is to purchase a 'Living Christmas Tree' that can be replanted and continue to be a life-giving force for years to come. Blue Spruce is a great option for a living tree. Speak with your local nursery about the best Christmas Tree.
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/trees/buying-a-christmas-tree-to-plant/
I also recommend checking out the Arbor Day Foundation or Plant a Billion Trees. For a small fee (as low as $1) they will plant a tree for you, spreading life in this bleakness of winter.
http://www2.arborday.org/index.cfm?
http://www.plantabillion.org/
Facts about Trees: http://www.takepart.com/photos/5-amazing-unbelievable-facts-about-trees/lonely-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow
When you have your tree up in the stand, before you string lights, take time to say a Christmas tree blessing and show gratitude for the life we have in Christ.
Here is a Catholic Blessing for the Christmas Tree:
Dear God, two thousand years ago, you brought your son, Jesus into this world to teach us the power of love and sacrifice. As we raise this tree, we remember his birth and the meaning of his life for us. Bless this tree as a symbol of our celebration of Jesus' birth and our gratitude for his sacrifice. May the joy this tree brings and the gifts we place under it remind us of the many gifts you have given us. We ask your blessings upon our loved ones, this day and always. Amen.
Jeremiah 17:8
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
1 Chronicles 16:33
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment