Eli, Eli Lama Sabacthani
On my knees. Waiting. Wondering. Questioning. I was reminded of a story I heard long, long ago. Remember that I was asked. And yes, I did. Ever so clearly. Every detail. And it makes all those cries of “Eli eli lama sabachthani” so worth it. I know now. Everything will work together for good. I AM JOY!!
Once upon a time, many, many years ago there were three young trees on a hill. And as young little people will do, they were discussing their hopes and dreams.
Said the first tree, “When I grow up, I want to be a treasure chest in a palace. I want to be the city’s treasury. I will be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I will be the most magnificent treasure chest in the world!"
Said the second tree, "Someday, I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I am happy to be here. But when I grow up I want to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree. I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter." And he began cutting it down. The tree was ecstatic. At last after all these years of waiting, his dreams were coming true. He just KNEW that the carpenter was going to make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. Now he would be able to see the world at last!!
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. Every fell of the axe meant pure misery. “Why me,” he cried. Why me?” But he was only a tree, and there was nothing he could do…
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. Now, this was not at all what he had prayed for and he was broken hearted. “Is this what came of all my praying?” he wondered. “This really wasn’t who I wanted to be.”
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. Day after day, the stench of fish, and the storms on the sea frightened him. Battered by the storms, wet and miserable all day long, he wept at his condition.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn where the first tree was placed. The woman was pregnant and she gave birth to a lovely boy child. And they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.
At that moment, on that silent night, the tree could feel the importance of this event. The night was a marvelous one and three kings placed in it gold, frankincense and myrrh. But the greatest treasure it held was the baby itself. He knew that wherever the story was told, the manger that the baby was born in would find a place in it. And so it did.
Years later, as the boat went out fishing, a huge storm came up. He had never seen such a storm in all his years on the sea. As he was mentally preparing to sink, he told himself “So much for my life.” The other men seemed to share his distress, for they were crying in fear.
Finally, one of them started waking up a man who had been sleeping, and who the boat had not noticed until then. He woke up and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings and that wherever this man’s story was told, he’d play a part in it too. And he does!
The third tree had long forgotten his dreams of glory. Lying all alone in the dark, he had given up questioning his purposeless existence. But one day, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. “Great,” thought he. “I am finally out of that place and I am being made to walk amidst these catcalls.” When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.
People flocked around him…some of them were weeping, and the man He was praying. And when the man died, the sun went into darkness, and there was a huge earthquake. The tree then knew that it had witnessed an extraordinary event, that the man who carried him was extraordinary. And that wherever the story of this man Jesus was told, the cross he died on, would play a central role. And that just as he had dreamed, the people of the world would flock around him, to marvel…
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know and remember that God has a plan for you. And that his plan is beyond your wildest dream or expectation. You were born with a Purpose.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Once upon a time, many, many years ago there were three young trees on a hill. And as young little people will do, they were discussing their hopes and dreams.
Said the first tree, “When I grow up, I want to be a treasure chest in a palace. I want to be the city’s treasury. I will be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I will be the most magnificent treasure chest in the world!"
Said the second tree, "Someday, I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I am happy to be here. But when I grow up I want to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree. I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter." And he began cutting it down. The tree was ecstatic. At last after all these years of waiting, his dreams were coming true. He just KNEW that the carpenter was going to make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. Now he would be able to see the world at last!!
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. Every fell of the axe meant pure misery. “Why me,” he cried. Why me?” But he was only a tree, and there was nothing he could do…
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. Now, this was not at all what he had prayed for and he was broken hearted. “Is this what came of all my praying?” he wondered. “This really wasn’t who I wanted to be.”
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. Day after day, the stench of fish, and the storms on the sea frightened him. Battered by the storms, wet and miserable all day long, he wept at his condition.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn where the first tree was placed. The woman was pregnant and she gave birth to a lovely boy child. And they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.
At that moment, on that silent night, the tree could feel the importance of this event. The night was a marvelous one and three kings placed in it gold, frankincense and myrrh. But the greatest treasure it held was the baby itself. He knew that wherever the story was told, the manger that the baby was born in would find a place in it. And so it did.
Years later, as the boat went out fishing, a huge storm came up. He had never seen such a storm in all his years on the sea. As he was mentally preparing to sink, he told himself “So much for my life.” The other men seemed to share his distress, for they were crying in fear.
Finally, one of them started waking up a man who had been sleeping, and who the boat had not noticed until then. He woke up and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings and that wherever this man’s story was told, he’d play a part in it too. And he does!
The third tree had long forgotten his dreams of glory. Lying all alone in the dark, he had given up questioning his purposeless existence. But one day, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. “Great,” thought he. “I am finally out of that place and I am being made to walk amidst these catcalls.” When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.
People flocked around him…some of them were weeping, and the man He was praying. And when the man died, the sun went into darkness, and there was a huge earthquake. The tree then knew that it had witnessed an extraordinary event, that the man who carried him was extraordinary. And that wherever the story of this man Jesus was told, the cross he died on, would play a central role. And that just as he had dreamed, the people of the world would flock around him, to marvel…
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know and remember that God has a plan for you. And that his plan is beyond your wildest dream or expectation. You were born with a Purpose.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
posted by Rapunzel at 9:13 pm
6 Comments:
i needed to hear this!!
--AG
:)
BTW, I didnt understand your comment at my place. You generally have to break it down into simpler terms. You have to do this for every 20-something-year-old guy. We are born stupid :)
AG-so did i!!
TWO PENNY-tsk tsk. thats what rapunzelites mean for hello tp. how was your weekend?:-D
Weekend was exciting. Went to a trekking trip. Almost got lost in the wilderness with two cute chick climbers. But luck was not on my side, and we found the way back...
Gah!!! :)
How was yours?
ha! i've written all about my week end. i oiled my tresses :-D
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