“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
(Psalms 36:9)
A TRAVEL STORY: Stumps Alive
The sunlight that streamed through the lush green foliage created a magical environment. We were camping in the Redwood Forrest. The campground was unlike any I had ever seen. In addition to the standard trees and ground cover that you might find at a well-landscaped campground, each site was in proximity to an enormous Redwood stump.
These stumps were evidence of the clear-cutting devastation wrought by logging companies a century before. According to the physical record provided by old black and white photographs, it looked like a war zone. Whole forests filled with giant trees succumbed to the lust of logging barons and a growing nation's insatiable appetite for lumber.
The context of the biblical book of Isaiah is the Exile. This period in Israel's history was traumatic. The Babylonian empire destroyed the central place of worship (the Temple) and government in Jerusalem. Scads of people were carted off to live in the foreign capital. Loss and destruction dominated the experience of those who lived the Exile. Isaiah's words were remembered, cherished, and built upon during this time. Isaiah spoke of a shoot rising from the stump of Jesse. Although Babylon and the people's wayward ways cut down the tree, God was going to bring to life. It might have seemed like an impossible dream at the time, but hope was seeded.
Stumps alive! The discarded stumps in the Redwood Forrest bear witness to God's power of resurrection and new life. Over time, shoots in the form of Redwood saplings sprung forth. A phenomenon that is known as "fairy rings" can be seen today. Surrounding dead stumps, the next generation of Redwood trees thrive. High into the sky, these trees stand tall.
It is among these trees and stumps that we had an enjoyable camping experience. Like children on playground equipment, we climbed and played in the forest. We had fun and delighted in experiencing God's wondrous creation. More than our joy was the wisdom that we found so tangibly shared. God desires life to spring forth even where there are death and destruction. It may take a few generations, but God can generate a forest from a field of stumps.
We are invited to participate in God's ongoing regenerative efforts. Whether it is to engage in the stewardship of creation or in the stewardship of our relationships with others, we are called to be active. Our words and deeds can and do make a difference. For example, whenever we love, share compassion, or speak kindly to another we are bearing witness to stumps being alive!
Prayer:
Light a candle (or two candles on your Advent wreath), take a deep breath, and pray…
O Come Creator of celestial light and shine on all creation. If I am honest, I am not guiltless when it comes to the destruction of this planet. Unaware of the ecological consequences of my consumption, I go about my day. I make countless decisions daily without considering the impact that I am making your creation. Shine a light into my darkness of consumption so that I might see what my greed, selfishness, and ignorance hides. Shine a light so that I might make better choices, greener choices. Shine so that I might walk the path of a steward. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Copyrighted 2019. Walt Lichtenberger. Permission granted to share with family and friends