The Forked Tree

Weel of February 21

It started like any other day for Jay, an eight-year-old going on nine thank you, but what happened that afternoon would change his life in a flash.

Jay was growing up in a new subdivision in Woodhaven Woods, Michigan where his dad was serving as a minister. The homes were new and had flat back yards with no fences and all backed into a wood line fifty to seventy yards deep. It was a great place for an eight year old to grow up and play.

Most of the trees were hardwoods, like oak and maple, tall and straight. All except one as Jay remembers. That tree was forked about four feet up. One fork was badly decayed and hollow near its base while the other was solid and healthy.

Jay remembers the afternoon was very windy, lots of threatening clouds but it wasn’t cold and it wasn’t raining. He was standing in his yard when he challenged God. He doesn’t know what prompted him. He just did. What goes through a boy's mind anyway? Jay tells it this way.

“ I saw the trees swaying in the wind and said, ‘Ok God. You knock over a tree and I will never doubt you again.’ Within seconds there was a loud crack. Even though
I was several hundred yards away I could see it was the forked tree that had fallen. Some parents gathered around the forked tree and I went over to see. It was then I saw that the solid half of the forked tree had cracked all the way to the ground and toppled. Surprisingly, the decayed half was still standing. You could look right through and see light on the other side. I don’t know what was holding that tree up. It looked as if it would fall over at any minute so the parents were keeping the children at a safe distance.

I thought about it later. God knocked over the strong but held up the weak. You could read into that. The weak half of that tree never did fall on its own. Some men cut it down later to insure it wouldn’t fall on anyone.

I didn’t tell anyone about this experience for the longest time. I guess I thought that was between God and me. Even now, decades later I have only shared this experience with a few others for fear of being seen as bragging or worse. But there is no doubt in my mind that God felled the strong half of that tree that day.

Jay Hessler
Sarasota

I Saw Your Kids

Week of February 14

My Mother, Mary, was diagnosed with lung cancer in February 1989. In May she professed her faith in Jesus Christ. We all celebrated this decision.

On a subsequent visit to my parents home on Eugene street in Sarasota, my wife Linda had a conversation with my Mom that we will never forget.

I was in the living room with my dad and Linda when in the bedroom to see Mary. She was sitting up in bed crocheting with her back against the wall.
As Linda entered the room mom looked up and said, “Hi Linda, I saw your kids today.”
My wife found this a peculiar greeting since we had been married for 13 years and had no children although we both wanted them.

My youngest sister, also named Linda, had three children, two girls and a boy. My wife said, “Don’t you mean your daughter, Linda’s children Mary?”
My Mom looked up and said emphatically, “I know who I am talking too. You are Mark’s wife. Linda I saw your children today, a boy and a girl.” My Mom returned to her crocheting.

Linda told me about this odd conversation on the drive back to our home in Sarasota Springs.

Mom’s cancer matastized and she succumbed to the disease a few weeks later.
Less than two years later my wife became pregnant. Many of our friends said, since she had been married so long (15 years) without a child she was probably going to have a girl. Linda told them, " No, itis going to be a boy."

In October 1991 our son Joseph was born.
In August 1993, after more than 17 years of marriage, Linda gave birth to our daughter Lauren.

Mark Walker
Sarasota

Driving Through the Fog

Week of February 7

I was traveling out of town on a freeway when the weather turned bad and fog began to limit visibility. Traffic slowed and eventually became stop and go. I decided to get off the freeway and exited behind a car that had a number plate that was outlined by a purple neon light. I couldn’t see very well but I could see those purple lights. As I was driving slowly through that fog I began thinking about the past five months.

A transition team I had been a part of was charged to find a new senior pastor for our church. I was lamenting all that time spent in confusion and seeking direction. I now realized that this had been a process. It wasn’t about finding a new pastor it was about being humble and obedient to God. Like the church at Ephesus, we had to be reminded, “You have forsaken your first love.”

I followed that car for an hour and a half. It was as if God was using the neon light to say, “you need me, keep your eyes on me and I will lead you one step at a time.”

The fog lifted and the car in front slowed to turn back onto the freeway. It was then I drew close enough to see the words at the bottom of the number plate. It read, “Jesus Loves You.”

Frank Burns
Dallas Texas