Lenten Devotional: “Young Trees”
Our unofficial Artitist-In-Residence, Deb Murphy had other pictures that did not make it into her exhibit, “The Sacred on the Street.” However, they are showing up as bulletin covers during Lent. This is the third one, called “Young Trees.”
I personally love this picture of the kids with Bob. We had to print it in black and white for the bulletin cover, but the color version here on the website is vibrant! This was taken during the Children’s Moment on February 14th, hence all the red. Bob is at a table with the kids, surrounded by the rest of us at tables because of the dinner after the worship service.
If you look closely, there is a lot of life in this picture. Bob was gesturing at the moment I took the picture, so his hand is blurred with movement. Fletcher is moving closer to see what’s in the basket. Elizabeth has turned around to look at her mom. Tristan has turned toward Nancy.
Aidan is reaching out to the little girl in Val’s lap. (The two Masons are out of sight – but being active, I’m sure.) Earl is watching intently. There are fresh red tulips. Again, if you look closely, you’ll notice communion – the bread and the cup – on the tables, symbolic of new life in Christ.
Why did I title this picture Young Trees? Two things contributed to the title. One is the lectionary Gospel (Luke 13: 6-9) for Sunday, March 7th. The owner of a vineyard wants to get rid of a fig tree that hasn’t produced any fruit in the three years since it was planted. The gardener begged to be allowed to aerate the soil and fertilize the tree to help it produce. I see the children as the young trees in our vineyard that need both physical and spiritual nurturing and sustenance. And if you look at the picture again, these trees of ours are surrounded by a large roomful of gardeners. The second reading that contributed to the title came from a recent homework assignment. In his book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase makes reference to members of the congregation “planting seeds for trees whose shade they will never see.” (p.108)
I’m awfully fond of shade trees. As their gardeners, let’s be sure ours continue to grow tall and strong, providing shade and bearing fruits of the Spirit.
