October 24, 2008

on the tree

While walking in the woods,
I noticed this leaf that had become caught
by the bark of the tree
as it was falling to the ground.
By being caught in this manner, the leaf,
stood out and apart from all the other leaves
that had completed their fall.
It reminded me that once
we are "caught" by faith,
we are never the same,
even though we may still
bear evidence of our past faults...
the visible holes of our past transgressions.

“Once you accept the existence of God-
however you define him,
however you explain your relationship to him-
then you are caught forever with his presence
in the center of all things.”
- Morris West

Although the cross we may bear

is heavy and burdensome,

the weight of that burden

has been removed from our back,

as we are upheld by the hand of Christ, our Savior

who bore our burdens on His cross,

the tree of His suffering and death.

The way of the cross is the way to the crown.