Driving along on a two lane road that takes me back home from certain trips to the grocery store amongst other places there lies an old abandoned vehicle of unknown make and model. It’s like an old retired thing that just sits there, rusting away at an unknown rate of deterioration.  It reminds me of “Mater” the rusted out tow truck from the animated movie “Cars” because of the missing hood cover and it makes me think of a time when this vehicle was full of life and was part of a family that it drove around town to the drive-in or the restaurant or to mom’s house for some fresh baked cherry pie. I can imagine just about any kind of former life for that now defunct anchor and I might not have ever noticed the thing if it weren’t for that giant tree growing out of its otherwise empty engine compartment.
    It’s quite a sight, that gigantic tree sprouting up out of that old dead auto (sans mobile) that has been sitting there for about 30 years or so. Its funny how out of a dead thing life can emerge isn’t it. And even more amazing is that the life coming out of it is fruit bearing life! And not just fruit from its branches but fruit from its residents, the families of several species of birds including an owl, the raccoons and opossum not to mention all of the insects and honey bees and all of their progeny. A microcosm of being that could exemplify our very own lives. It shows me how life can come from anywhere at any time all around us but without a history, a marker of some kind it’s just a question mark. What I mean is that without a reference as to who or what that life once was we tend to simply walk right past significant things like that without giving it a second thought.
    It also reminds me of times when I’ve been abandoned, left behind and forgotten just like that old clunker nobody wants to be around anymore. But God has another story for me doesn’t He. Another life to come out of me to produce good fruits and bear witness to the second chances and favor He has in store for me. And although I may seem to the average observer to walking alone, He is behind me one hundred and one percent. You see, like that old steel rimmed marvel of engineering, I too had a seed put inside of me that will grow up in its due season to be an incredible sight in the eyes of my friends and enemies alike. My prayer is this: May God see what they’re putting me through because of His word so that He may bless me for it.
    So although I might be put through unpleasant things by overpowering people I know in my heart that the real power comes of our provider of all we need and desire, and not from those who wish to lord it over me. As for me and my house, well I think I’ll stick to what the Bible says about me and ignore all that other white noise. Amen