The Tree of Life and Death

It was after my "shack" experience that I noticed this tree. I had walked out of the church, into the sunshine and had spent about twenty or thirty minutes sitting against a tower of sorts in the field nearby. There I had simply enjoyed the sunshine and the breeze on my face. Sitting there, doing nothing, but being in reflection of the previous two hours and of the amazement of the presence of God in my life. Joy and Peace and Grace and Love surrounded me.

When it was time to leave, I stood up and started walking toward my car. Suddenly, I stopped. Something was strange, but I couldn't quite place it. As I continued to stare at the tree that had caught my eye to the right of the field, I made mental notes. "Great symmetry" "it has a central base, then divides". Then silence as my breath catches: "half of the tree is dead!" I stood there silently for a long time, just staring at the tree, its symmetry and the dichotomy it represented.

Oh, how I wanted a picture of this - wanted to capture it to remember! My camera battery had previously "died" within the church and I prayed a moment - "just enough battery for one more picture, please!!" Sure enough, it powered up. "Thank You, thank You, thank You..."

As I turned to walk away, I said aloud, "I want to choose life! Please help me to choose life!"