Ode to a Tree

I see you out there

Don’t think I don’t

Standing there, arms stretched up to the sun

Soaking in the Vitamin D

Swaying with each movement of the breeze

Mocking me

Taunting me

And I am undone by jealousy

I push my rolley chair back and pick up a fax

You sway forward as if moving with me

You almost touch the glass window that separates us

Then you sway back

And I notice how blue the sky is

And how black my plastic desk phone is

And I sigh

You sway again toward the window

Are you inviting me out?

Don’t you know

That I am as rooted to this reception area

As you are to the ground?

Of course you know

And you’re mocking me again

I put on my sweater

Protection from the waft of artificially cool air

Your fluttering

Surrounded by natural air

And I know it smells like lavender with hints of ozone

I should quit my job and join you outside

I won’t

You’re laughing at me again

But I’m laughing now too

Because when I put on my sweater

I remembered

In a few months you will still be rooted to the ground

But the ground will be covered with snow

And your arms encased in ice

While I will be toasty warm

With my toes wiggling under the space heater

And I won’t envy you anymore

Devotional on Complaint

Why should a man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Lamentations 3:39 NKJV

How would the sinner answer this question?

Because it isn’t fair.  God is supposed to be loving.  If he loved me, he wouldn’t hurt me.  To punish me for sins, which he created me to want to do, and which everyone else does, isn’t fair.  If he is really a loving God, he will forgive me when I mess up.

How would the repentant answer this question?

Because it isn’t right.  I already confessed my sins so I shouldn’t still suffer for them.  I am supposed to be forgiven.  What good is forgiveness if I still have to suffer for my mistakes anyway?  I gave up a lot to come to Jesus and it wasn’t so I would just still be punished for my sins.

How would the saint answer this question?

Because I am his child.  I may mess up now and then, but I’m not nearly as bad as the people in the world.  There are people in the world who are murderers and thieves and they don’t get punished for their sins.  I am his child.  If the people in the world see that even God’s children suffer when they sin, why would they ever want to come to Christ?

How would the Savior answer this question?

Surrender.  Jesus didn’t complain when he was lifted up to suffer the punishment for my sins.  It wasn’t fair; He didn’t deserve to die.  It wasn’t right; He hadn’t sinned.  He was the beloved Son of God, the only holy child of God.  When he faced the punishment for the sins of mankind he asked, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”  Why should I be punished for sin?  He answered his own question with a declaration of surrender.  “Into Thy hands I commit my spirit.”

How would my relationship with God transform if my response to the punishment for my sin were surrender? 

Into your hands, my God, I commit my spirit.