One of Life’s Characters

Devil’s Garden—Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID

At first glance it looked like a pine bush instead of a tree.  Upon closer inspections we found that the “bush” was formed because the trunk of the “tree" was lying on top of the ground.  As our eyes followed the horizontal stem, it did not seem to go into the ground.  It was, in fact, attached to a sliver of a stump that seemed quite dead—BUT the tree/bush was quite alive and, except for its odd orientation, quite healthy.  Of course, I took a picture, and then said, “There must be an object lesson in that!”

 

As I thought about that tree and many others I have photographed, they have one thing in common—they are NOT tall, straight, specimens of the ideal tree…no, not all!   Instead they are bent or twisted, broken or, as in the first case, just plain weird…which gives it character worth photographing!

It is the trials and challenges that they have dealt with all their lives that give them that character.  Rarely have they “overcome” the challenge, rather they have adapted in such a way as to thrive in spite of it.

Jesus said, “In this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good CHEER, I have overcome the world.”  He also said that he came to give us life abundantly.  These two statements may seem at odds with each other.  There is no doubt that we have trials.  We all have experienced them. But because He has overcome, we can thrive and be happy in spite--and sometimes because--of them.

We are all one of life’s characters.  Is your life hidden in Jesus today, so that you can thrive in spite of your challenges?  

View from the top of one of the craters.

 

Playing with the girls at the fairgrounds in Arco, ID, near the Craters of the Moon National Monument.