Sylvester Ngonga
Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
“But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
2 Corinthians 4: 7-10
Today as I sat down to make a long-distance telephone call to Kenya, I looked out through my bedroom window and saw this tree. I see many things whenever I look out through this vintage eye view – a lady walking her dog, a young man jogging, a fire truck blazing its siren, and many commonplace things. But today I notice this tree. It looks different, just like the trees that sometimes I encounter while walking the woodlands when I spend my solitary alone – moments with God.
Whenever I leave behind the hustle and bustle of life, shut out the worries and cares of this world, albeit for a moment, I walk and listen attentively to hear a voice other than the ordinary. Sometimes the trees look so different than the last time that I saw them. Sometimes they whisper to me. Sometimes they shout at me, and yet at other times, the fallen trees stare at me!
Commenting about the trees that fall on the river, David James Duncan observes, “The fallen tree becomes a naked log, the log begins to lead a kind of afterlife in the river. While the living tree provides shade on the river and shelter for animals, a tree that has snapped in two and has fallen into the water creates vast transfusion of nutrients – a river feast!
In this life, we can often fall from the shore, break into two and stumble into the ravaging waters of life. Such tumbles may leave us broken and discouraged. Life adjustments due to illnesses, calamities, and body changes; private and public criticisms, and breakneck life pace may disorient us. The reality of “what is” against our expectation of “what should be” can saddle all of us with feelings of sadness.
But often, in our submerged selves within our brokenness, new life bursts forth in resilience as we are knocked down but not out! Probably you may be suffering bruises in the body and the spirit and feel snapped into two by the challenges of life, always remember that resilience grounded in Jesus’ resurrection enables us to endure turbulent waters as we are transformed by such tormenting experiences!
Prayer:
Hear my prayer, O LORD!
Let my cry for help come before you.
Do not hide your face from me in my day of distress.
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
My heart is afflicted and withered like grass.
Revive your spirit within me and reveal to me what I should learn from this experience. Amen!