October 15, 2008

a hope tree

This Chestnut fruit with decomposing seed

seems to be invincibly protected with its thorny shell.

"Once proud and strong,
the American chestnut tree
covered huge tracts of land
across the eastern United States
for thousands of years
until a fungus from Asia decimated
virtually every tree
standing on North American soil."
- The American Chestnut Story
Sam Cox, 1997

There is still hope… the American Chestnut is not yet extinct.

As with us…however strong we think we are...
beware of being destroyed from within.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—

but it is not to the sinful nature,

to live according to it.

For if you live according to the sinful nature,

you will die;

but if by the Spirit

you put to death the misdeeds of the body,

you will live…”

- Romans 8: 12,13 NIV

"Lord save us all from...

a hope tree that has lost the faculty

of putting out blossoms."

- Mark Twain