Oak Tree Miracle
by Ron Hedberg, 6 September 2000
The oak tree in my front yard is symbolic of my marriage to Peggy. It stood tall
and strong when other trees nearby died of Oak Wilt a couple of years ago.
This year, the tree appeared to be doing just fine through a dry spring and summer.
But inside it suffered as disease and decay choked life from it. Then it lost almost
all of its leaves in a few days in early July. It was hopeless. To use a divorce
term, its life appeared to be irretrievable. Neighbors walked by and expressed surprise
and their sympathy over my loss. I saw the parallels to my marriage.
A few weeks later, I anointed the tree with oil and prayed for healing for the tree.
I explicitly asked God to use this tree to demonstrate what he could do with a marriage
on its death bed. Our neighborhood was experiencing another dry summer. Everyone,
including the city forester, had given up hope for this tree. I asked God to bring
new life into this tree. I asked Him to bring spring buds in the heat of August
and even in the fall. Only God could make this happen. There was nothing I could
do - but wait with expectation.
In early September, this tree now displays signs of life everywhere. There are new
limbs growing from the trunk. There are hundreds of new buds on the branches. This
tree is a symbol of new life as the leaves on the other trees turn brown for fall.
God has performed a miracle! There is now life in what was thought to be dead!
I expect that at least some of the branches will die. Like our outward words and
actions, some of these unhealthy ones should die. And that may be why there are
so many new limbs growing from the trunk of an old tree. These new branches have
a fresh start. The tree has not experienced this kind of new life in many years.
With proper feeding, the rapid growth of the new limbs will eventually overtake
the old unhealthy ones. New actions and habits can do the same.
God has been at work in and around my life this past year. Many of the events could
truly be called miracles. There have been lots of "coincidences" and many
things I simply could not do on my own. And God's power has been present through
the many humbling training experiences too. I suspect Satan is not too happy about
all of this.
God stands ready, willing, and able to perform miracles every day. He brings reconciliation
to relationships through confession, repentance (changed behavior), and forgiveness.
These are things we cannot do on our own. He is glad to bring life, wholeness, and
victory to areas under the control of sin, death, and the Devil. He can make us
whole. He can heal relationships - even those we think are dead or dying.
I do not know if Peggy is open to experience a miracle. That is her choice
to make. The tree miracle is intended to be a sign for all to see. So I share it
with you. The hand of God is at work in our world. I pray that you will be open
to a miracle in your life too.
Love,
Ron
Good Friday, 13 April 2001
The oak tree was cut down today. Minnesota state rules gave me no choice. It had
been exposed to oak wilt. It was presumed guilty, assumed contagious.
I wondered how long it will take to grow a replacement tree. I counted the rings.
The tree was exactly the same age as Peggy.
I cut the tree, cleaned up, and went to focus on another tree, the cross - at a
Good Friday service.
And this is love...
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