There was a time when trees ran around; when they had no
leaves and did not bear any fruit. Birds also made their nests on the ground.
And everyone thought that this was the way things were meant to be.
Summer, autumn, winter, spring; the trees would play
outside. They did not care too much about anything or anyone but themselves; as
long as they felt happy and did things that made them laugh. There was one
tree, though, who was very careful where he stepped, not wanting to
accidentally kick a nest or step on a mother-bird’s eggs. In fact, he loved the
birds so much that he would spend hours in the field talking with the birds and
helping them build their nests where the other trees would not damage them when
they played. The other trees teased him and they told him to stop what he was
doing and to play their games. They said, “This is the way things were meant to
be”.
One day, the sky grew dark. The clouds became thick and
grey. A storm was coming! The wind picked up and the trees knew that this was
going to be a storm like no other. They became scared and decided to run away.
But not our loving tree. He was too worried about what would happen to the
birds and their nests. So, instead of heading for a safer place, the tree
turned around and rushed to the field, where all the birds were trying to hide.
“What are you doing?” the other trees asked.
“I have to save the birds!”, the tree shouted back.
“Leave them alone! Save yourself! This is the way things are
meant to be!”
But the tree didn’t listen to them. He knew beter.
By now the wind was blowing stronger and stronger with every
gust.
He stood on a hill where all the birds could see him,
stretched out his branches and shouted, “Come, little birds! Come hide in my
branches! Come here if you are scared, come here if you are tired!”
The birds started flocking together. The woodpeckers quickly
pecked holes in his branches for the birds to hide in. Although it was sore,
the tree didn’t mind. He knew it would make them safe.
For hours the storm raged and the tree stood firm. The water
flowed and covered his feet with mud, burying them deep in the soil. Eventually
the storm subsided. The other trees came back and found the tree still standing
and holding all the birds in his branches. He didn’t move.
“Is he dead?” they asked.
A few days passed, and the tree didn’t move or make a sound.
But then, one glorious morning, when the trees came to see
what was happening to this brave tree, they found something strange going on.
He had these funny green knobs growing on his branches. The birds were still
sitting in his branches. More than that, there were little blossoms. And then
the tree opened his eyes.
“This is how things are meant to be!” He said. His feet had
become roots and drank up all the water and nutrients from the soil that
covered them. It gave him life and made him beautiful like no other tree.
It did not take long for the other trees to recognize his
beauty and so they decided to become like him. They followed in his footsteps
and whenever a tree planted his or her feet in the soil and opened up their
branches to welcome little birds, they started growing green leaves and
beautiful fruit, just like the tree who stood bravely in that storm.
Now, there is something about this story that reminds me of
Easter. When I look at the cross, it looks like arms stretched open. It is as
if Jesus is saying to me: “Come, let the children come. If you are thirsty,
come. If you are scared, come, I will keep you safe”. It also reminds me that
if I should follow in Jesus’ footsteps, Jesus promised that my life would start
bearing fruit – showing the signs of His Kingdom.
