J drew this tree on the sidewalk in front of the church last night at our All Church Picnic, an event we typically have during the summer. It was unclear whether the picnic would happen with a big wind storm at 4 PM, knocking out power to many in the city. But by 5:30, all was clear. The church provided hot dogs and drinks; folks were asked to bring a dish to share. There was plenty of food to be had. We ran out of hot dog buns and one point, and someone had to make a Bun Run, but that was the only glitch.
The kids enjoyed water games on the lawn, and the adults stood in clumps or talked around tables. There was also a table of former members of the Baptist church who have migrated over to ours after theirs sadly closed earlier in the spring. I’m glad we can provide them with a spiritual home. It must be hard to have to leave a church that’s been a part of your life for so long. We say the church isn’t a building, but we do get attached to our own bricks and mortar, don’t we?
There were samples of sidewalk chalk artistry on display. The tree above reminded me of the words of Psalm 1. The righteous person “is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” I’m not sure whether the things on the branches above are leaves or fruit. I don’t know what the big white dot is on the trunk — maybe a knot hole, or an eye. The tree is watching us with its one eye. Maybe it’s like a whale, with another eye on the opposite side.
Or better, it is the tree of life spoken of in the Bible:
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Prov 13.12)
