Of Trees and Nails

A landscape of trees captivated my attention as I walked the grounds at Mount Mary's Retreat Centre during a recent "Power of Words" conference. I could see maple, ash, oak, pine, cedar, and blue spruce along with many varieties I didn't recognize. Big old trees towered over the more recently planted.

Psalm one declares that a person who avoids evil and delights in God's law "is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:3

I thought about how all these different trees were like the women at the conference, everyone unique.

I asked the Lord, "Which one am I?"

He directed my attention to a white cross off in the distance.

"You mean I'm a dead piece of wood?" Rather disappointing, I thought.

In my spirit I heard, "Yes, and I'm nailed to you."

Later at the conference the speaker spoke of nails as mentioned in Ecclesiates 12:11, "The words of the wise are like goads. Their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd."

Later at the conference, I also had an opportunity to say something. I told a stupid joke, to get a laugh. I could have shared my experience with the Lord, to give wisdom.

Words are indeed powerful. I want mine to be "like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd."