WHAT DID THE TREE SAY At various and sundry times, in our daily struggle for survival and change, a few moments of contemplation might find its way into the schedule. Following some good advice on a warm fall day, I exercised my spirit, tasking it with communing and interpreting. In the party of spirits that surrounded my sitting, a large, somewhat aged and three trunk yellow birch told me of itself. When the conversation was done, I found lessons were learned and further meditation revealed a wisdom for living that applies to people and surprisingly, to the church as well. This is what the tree said: I am diverse, searching and striving in many directions. I have many parts of many sizes yet all are important and I cannot grow if they are not used. The strength and majesty that you admire in me is possible only by having a strong foundation from which I draw my strength. I am mindful and faithful to my foundation returning to it as much as I take out. I am round and complete for I resemble my ancestors. I produce much fruit though at times I must rest. I long for my creator and strive diligently towards him. I am better for my neighbors who are of different nationalities and need my protection, or my discipline. I grow tall and solid because I resist every vagrant wind that would bend and break me according to its will. I require all my members to labor but do not ask them to sustain more than they can bear. I am kind to my friends of a different race and freely give them shelter and food, often at my own sacrifice, often at my own death. Job 12:7-8