Once there were three trees on a hill in the
woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams
when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to
be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver
and precious gems. I could be decorated with
intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be
a mighty ship. I will Take kings and queens across
the waters and sail to the corners of the
world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow
to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest.
People will see me on top of the hill and
look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always
remember me."
After a few years of praying that their
dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to
the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the
barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people
mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
author unknown
Lord, it seems each of the trees got what they wanted, but not in the way they had imagined. We fear to trust you at times; desiring more yet not having the patience to wait for your wide blessing. At times, we wonder if you are playing a game with our dreams.
Lord Jesus, give us a little grace to uncover your song of life on our journeys, allowing our stories to be mapped on your Cross; the years of waiting breaking forth beyond a distant hillside, where looking back, we shall see the how often we meet our destiny on the roads we took to avoid it...
amen
jean de fontaine (adapted)
