The Dead Tree

My long-time passion for photography started back in high school.  My friends and I took pictures at every possible opportunity...I have boxes and boxes of photos-tangible as it was pre-digital craze-of my girls and I making memories, good and bad, noteworthy and why would anyone want a picture of that.  There were no "selfies".  We would hand off the camera to a complete stranger and end up with pictures of us in Walmart isles, next to random statues, cheering on our high school football team, or camping out before a weekend softball tournament.

These days I am much more comfortable behind the lens than I am in front of it, taking pictures of my kids like most moms or the occasional wedding or senior pictures for close friends.  What I love the most, though, is capturing nature.  So many pictures of people tell a story, but a nature photo has to draw the viewer in before a sense of story can emerge and an emotional connection to the photo can be made.  Even the photographer doesn't always see the story until they've had a chance to study their photograph for awhile.

Which brings me to this picture I took today in the woods behind our home.  It is by no means the most artistically stunning photo I have ever taken, but it struck a deep emotional chord with me.  I began looking through the lens because of the vibrant colors of the leaves as the weather turns crisp and cool in northern Minnesota.  And as you can see, there are many beautiful trees in the picture.

It is the dead tree in the middle, however, that grabs my attention the most.

As I looked at this landscape today, I saw myself.  Today, and perhaps you can relate, as I reflected further I realize that many days I am this dead tree.  I look around at the trees next to me and see so many vibrant, beautiful people-full of life and color.  Then I look at myself and I'm still standing strong, but I have lost my color, the vibrant spirit inside of me, the rich branches of leaves that make me feel alive. 

Ever feel that way?  Like life has taken the color out of you?  For me it can be the littlest things that come from being a wife and mother-cleaning, laundry, getting everyone out the door with what they need in the morning.  Or it can be my story-the big gusts of wind that knock over branches and take away leaves, leaving me feeling empty inside and out.  For many of you it is as simple as words that sting or as complicated as broken relationships or the most unfair health struggles.  They leave us feeling lifeless among the vibrant trees around us.

But there is one difference between you and I and this dead tree.  We have a choice.

The tree is dead.  It cannot grow new leaves or experience new life.  Eventually, it will fall.

But we have a choice...to seek to be renewed.

The God who loves us is waiting for us to want to grow in Him.  And when we make that choice, when we choose to see what beauty and vibrance our creator has planned for us, He can and will restore us to color-to beautiful living beings that don't pale in comparison to anyone or anything.  He will breathe new life into your soul and make you come alive.

Wherever you are today, I pray that you see that you have a choice.  That you don't have to wait amongst the living, too proud to admit that you will fall. 


You can be restored, and restored daily if needed, through Jesus.