Haiku: Winter folds a tree- into a counterfeit death – Gray, bony, lifeless.
Sitting on the back porch swing, high in the Ozark Mountains, I feel the last remnants of the cool morning breeze wafting in. The deciduous trees that blanket the rolling hills vibrate with vibrant colors. White clouds hang in the pale blue sky, hinting at rain in their underbelly. Tree limbs sway gently in the wind, and leaves rustle momentarily before falling silent.
A red-headed woodpecker glides past, wings outstretched as it easily navigates the air currents. With slight turns among the branches, it soon disappears from view. Birds sing their early morning melodies, hidden from sight. From the clouds above, shaded areas dot the mountainside, providing a cool retreat from the day’s heat. As nature dances in the wind, life thrives in the warmth of the sunlight.
Yet, amidst this bountiful backdrop of life stands a stark contrast: a giant dead stick, gray, bony, and lifeless. Its haggard branches extend outward, out of place, and exposed. This lifeless form yearns for the dead of winter, embodying a facade of counterfeit death.
A Christian should not wish for a counterfeit life to hide behind when there is so much more to life. Discernment’s gift removes the hindrances by digging deep roots, growing in knowledge and understanding, and letting gratitude overflow.
An unencumbered mind can think clearly, look beyond the present moment, grasp reality, and recognize the pitfalls of empty philosophies. However, for this to happen, your mind must be clear and focused, looking beyond instant gratification to identify real dangers. Reason sharpens the mind; imagination allows you to see beyond what you know to distinguish subtle traps that may ensnare.
Freedom is the ability to think and imagine beyond yourself and act with forethought.
Jeremiah 17: 7-9 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is in the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green. And will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit. The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and I test the mind…
brontebrown2 
Leave a comment