I remember walking on the trail near my house this past year. My border collie
and my son's pit bull/boxer mix caught up with me as I carefully walked over the
stepping-stones crossing the creek. It had been a long winter and I was
searching for any evidence of spring I could sight as we ventured through the
poplars.
While the dogs romped back and forth through the woods I scanned the forest
floor for wild violets, jack-in-the-pulpits, and trilliums, but found none. So,
together the three of us trudged along the trail, climbing ridges and descending
into small ravines. The abundant snows that winter and the recent rains had
caused all the springs to bubble forth. As they joined forces they formed
several streams that cascaded down the mountainside and created several
miniature waterfalls along our path.
Finally, after we had come to the end of the trail, I approached the last spring
and searched the landscape for any sign of spring, but regretfully found no sign
of a flower, not a one. As I was about to return along the path we had come, I
noticed something that my gaze hadn't seen before. It was like one of those
pictures that you have to refocus your eyes slightly to see. I hadn't perceived
it before, but all the sudden there it was glaring at me, something far more
significant to me than merely a sign of spring. For there before my eyes was
seen not merely a bit of creation, but a sign of the recreation that God does in
all of us. I smiled as I took in this lesson God had sent to me in the form of a
‘Poplar Parable.’
Before me I could see one of the poplars that had toppled in a windstorm a
couple years ago. There it lay on the ground, like so many other trees that had
gotten knocked down from the remnants of a hurricane. However, there was
something drastically different about this tree. Its roots, still attached, were
close to the bubbling spring that sent water gushing past it. Not all of those
roots had been jerked out of the ground That life-giving liquid gushing past the
poplar's roots had kept the tree alive! And on the side of the tree where the
branches could still stretch upward, I noticed signs of life as the twigs
displayed many buds.
Oftentimes, I search for the parables God has hidden throughout nature. Here was
an allegory that I believe we all can identify with in our lives. Many are the
times in our lives that we are toppled over like a magnificent poplar, when the
winds of strife assail us.
It may be that we lost our job, or that we didn't get the job we had hoped for,
or possibly we're heartbroken because we've lost a loved one or perhaps a love
relationship dissolved. Many are the times that our lives have toppled over. And
yet God sends us His bubbling stream. And as we are watered by the Holy Spirit,
we are revived, and with what life force we have left within us we send forth
our branches pointing towards the Son of righteousness.
Yes, sometimes in life we may become devastated. We may be dealt a wicked blow.
We may be knocked down to our knees, or even flat on our back. Yes, truly, we
may be down, but praise God, we are not done!
Ron Reese rreese50@bellsouth.net
Ron Reese, who lives in North Carolina, is sometimes tossed about by the winds
of strife that rock his life. Sometimes he's like the old poplar, he’s down, but
he's not done.
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.