My family has lived on this old farm for nearly 9 years now, and of the 4 trees in what we call our yard, our apple tree has been the one I have found to be the least attractive. It is very scraggly looking, its branches are thin, and I have never found it appealing to the eye, even in the summer when it bears its sweet fruit......until recently.
While outside one day taking pictures of another tree in our yard, I glanced over at our apple tree and decided to show this scraggly looking tree some pity and attempt to take some worthwhile shots of its sad looking existence. I was surprised to find, after taking a closer look at its branches and observing the new direction in which some of the limbs grew after being beaten by storms and bitter weather, that this scraggly looking tree now looked very different after a fresh look from willing eyes. I saw its many scars and felt almost shamed for not having more compassion for the life this tree has lived. I had been judging this tree from a distance for 8 years and had never even bothered to take a closer look at it. My judgements were based on what I took the time to see, and my vision was terribly blinded by those rash judgements. It wasn't until I got up close and personal with this apple tree that I saw the beauty it possessed.
I have been observing this tree over the last few weeks and I have seen a loveliness about it that I never knew existed. It has many scars, yes, but they ooze of its perseverance to survive bitter storms and great loss. Its branches, though thin, show great strength despite being blown to and fro, strong enough to carry the heavy load of its summer fruit. And as I continued to go back again and again to visit this once ignorantly ignored tree, I began to see new life growing from it-- bright young greenery, pink hues coming out from the growth on its new branches, and now, dark pink blossoms that turn a pale pink as each flower unfolds. And there is not only beauty and life within this tree, but life outside of and because of it-- the buzzing bees, the singing birds, the lively ladybugs, and on and on it goes, life extending and thriving because of this one apple tree. How poorly I had misjudged this sweet apple tree, that for 8+ years looked scraggly and insignificant to me, all because I failed to put in the time to take a closer look. And the sad loss was all mine.
I think we often make this same mistake with human beings. We look at their rough exterior from a distance, the way they dress or present themselves, their tough attitudes, their not so nice way of speaking, or insensitive comments, and we make rash judgements. But are we looking close enough to see their scars? To see the storms they have weathered and why maybe their life has taken an unpleasant direction? Are we looking for the unique beauty in them which each of us possess because we were all created, wanted, and loved by the same God? Not all of us have been fortunate enough to have strong family support, people who point us in a better direction when a storm has left us battered, beaten, and broken. And not all of us were born with the seemingly natural ability to overcome strenuous circumstances, with a strong will to become better rather than bitter. Some of us find it easier to go wrong than to go right. Each of us were designed with specific flaws, shortcomings and weaknesses that few understand, and even fewer, who will love us through it. But in each of us there IS beauty. Each of us have a purpose and gifts that better the world because of our existence in it, which was designed by God. And all of us have touched and been touched by another, extending life and thriving because of that touch.
We as humans, and especially as God's people, need to take a closer look at the people we are judging from a distance. If we will but offer our heart up close and personal, rather than our judgements from a distance, we will find a beauty in others that we never could have seen from far away. And through that beauty we will fall in love with that imperfect soul who merely needs God's grace just as much as we do.
May each of us learn to love all from the following scripture:
1 Timothy 2:1, 3-6
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and the giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ;
(6) Who gave Himself a ransom for all,...
#love1another ♡
