The Virtue of Bending
Posted by: tony on 04/16/2007 08:59 PM
Updated by: tony on 04/16/2007 08:59 PM
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Expires: 05/17/2007 12:00 AM
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 Last night we were hit by the winter storm (in mid-April?) which has been blanketing the north-eastern portion of the United States.
This afternoon, my wife called me and said: "I think our tree is a goner!". The "tree" is the tree pictured, that has probably been growing in our front yard since the house was built in 1966. It has shaded the front of our house in the summer and the yard, where I liked to park my lawn rocker with a beer and a cigar. It also blocked the bitter cold wind in mid winter helping to keep our home warm. In the spring it would bloom with beautiful red flowers that were perfect for probably one day before the wind carried the petals away to cover everything.
I didn't know what to expect when I came home, but I understood that neither of the cars were damaged, the house wasn't hit, and none of my family or the dog were hurt, so all in all it couldn't be too bed. If I had to cut down the tree, well... The tree would come down, and another would be planted in it's place.
When I got home I discovered that the weight of the snow had broken off two of the huge branches and split another right down the middle. I was assessing the damage, and I figure when the weather gets a little better, I'll rent a chain saw, and take those branches off. If the tree still looks reasonable and healthy, I'll just leave it. Otherwise it'll come completely down.
I was looking at the tree, and my eyes traveled to the forsythia bush right behind and to the left of it. I noticed that the forsythia was bowed down, but none of the branches were broken.
This was because the bush was flexible, and bent with the pressure of the snow. When the snow melts, it will bounce right back. The tree broke because it was too rigid and would not bend.
I used to be like that.
I had plans. There were things I wanted. When I didn't get those things, I got angry and my peace was damaged. I really wasn't understanding that God had a plan for me, and I would just have to figure out what it was. When I fought God's plans for me, my "branches broke".
Now I try to conform myself to God's will. I bend when he presses me, and I try and mold into the final product he has in mind for me. I count my blessings. I have everything I need and most of the things I want. I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful children. I have been blessed, partially, I feel, because I now am able to bend.
So think about your life. Are you a proud tree? Or are you a forsythia bending your will to conform to God's?
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