By David Nii of Centennial, Colorado USA

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

An old apple tree grows in the corner of our yard. In winter, its leafless form looks scraggly, but each spring new shoots emerge, leaves bloom, and the tree takes on a beautiful shape and color. I conscientiously fertilize, water, and prune, yet every year, the tree is barren.

I marvel at our neighbor’s apple tree, usually full of nicely shaped fruit each year. I believe our tree actually is the barren root stock instead of the supposed fruit-bearing variety. Several years ago, I tried to graft a new fruit-bearing shoot onto our tree with dismal results, so I told my spouse I was going to cut the tree down because it was never going to be a real apple tree. Her response was simple and to the point: “Please don’t cut it down; it is such a pretty tree.”

That tree became a symbol of the Resurrection. Every fall it withers and every spring it comes back to life, but it re-emerges in its own beauty, not into my preconceived idea of what it needs to be in order to have value. That tree comes to new life each spring with its fruitless branches proclaiming, “See how I make the corner of your yard a pretty space!”

Life often is filled with non-fruit-bearing apple trees. In spite of our best intentions and desires, winter comes, and when new life emerges it often does not take the shape, form, or fruit-bearing we think it should. Yet, creation continues to birth new possibilities of beauty and value. The call to be people of the Resurrection is an invitation to be willing to see and experience the wonder present in all rebirth. The miracle of resurrection is not in my barren tree someday bearing fruit, but in the recognition and celebration of its beautiful renewing glory each spring.

Prayer Phrase

“Creation itself will be set free” (Romans 8:21).

Spiritual Practice

Holy Attention

Spend a few moments paying attention wherever you are. Notice what draws your focus surrounding you. Look more closely at detail and color. Notice what pulls or prods within you. How is the God-in-all-things speaking to you through what you see and feel right here, right now?

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.