Dave Dishman

The trees here in Colorado finally emerged from their winter sleep these past few weeks. I love it when the view from my upstairs window goes green as the ash tree outside fully leafs out. Trees bring shade and beauty and joy. I’ve planted lots of them over the years, and each one that grew to maturity became a friend.

The Psalms speak of trees. In a song of praise King David wrote: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord.

I love the imagery of trees forming a choir. The symbolism is metaphorical, revealing the great joy all of creation will exhibit at the coming of the true king. But now that it’s spring and trees are in full bloom, it’s not hard to imagine them swaying and singing together.

Will trees literally sing for joy? I wouldn’t bet against it. Anything is possible with the Lord, and singing trees seems like something he would enjoy.

Psalm 96:11-13

Photo by Jan Huber

One summer in Hungary our family traveled across the country by train. The day was hot, our assigned car was packed, and we sweltered with only an open window for ventilation. Overwhelmed, our three year old daughter looked around and started to cry. As my wife comforted her and I took care of our boys, I thought, this is going to be a miserable train ride.

Then the unexpected. A lady sitting across from us pulled a few cherries from her luggage. Hungary produces fabulous cherries, and these were cold and fresh. She shared one with our daughter whose eyes lit up. The rest of that long afternoon our daughter shared a seat with a Hungarian angel and happily munched on cherries.

Sometimes good things come to us we neither expect or deserve—like the kindness of a stranger.

The good people of Malta hosted the shipwrecked passengers and crew from Paul’s ill-fated voyage across the Mediterranean. The chief man of the island (Publius) poured on the hospitality. Then Paul returned the favor: It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

Along with healing the sick, Paul preached during his three month stay. The gospel spread rapidly and many people followed Jesus. According to tradition, the shipwreck and subsequent work of Paul and his companions launched the faith in Malta which continues to this day.

For no reason of their own God blessed the people of Malta. Sometimes God blesses out of the blue (or in this case, out of the storm). I don’t know what’s coming, nor can I plan ahead for its arrival. Like a cold cherry on a hot day, I can simply enjoy God’s favors when they arrive and remain grateful for His continued goodness in my life.

Acts 28:1-10

Photo by Anna Bratiychuk

Paul and his companions sailed for Rome, but a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck the ship. Driven along for fourteen days, the ship eventually came within site of an island. The sailers aimed for a beach, but ran aground on a reef. The order came to jump overboard and make for land, either by swimming for those who could, or by clinging to broken pieces of the boat for those who could not.

Imagine the terror. Surrounded by winds raging and waves pounding, all you have is a soggy plank to keep you afloat. But to stay behind meant certain death as the ship was pounded apart. If you want to live, grab hold of a chunk of wood and kick toward shore. A drowning man ain’t picky.

An angel told Paul there would be no loss of life among the 276 passengers on the ship. But the angel did not specify how each person would be saved. Desperation fueled limbs. When reaching shore they collapsed in relief and gratitude. As the angel predicted, no one drowned.

Doesn’t God come alongside us in the same way? I pray for delivery from some problem, but the Lord doesn’t answer as I’m driven along by the storm day after day. Then, when relief does come, it never looks at shiny and safe as I dreamed. It appears more like a log in the water than a coast guard helicopter. Yet it gets the job done. Thank you Lord for the means of rescue you extend, soggy planks and all.

Acts 27

Photo by The New York Public Library

It never pays to humiliate someone, especially if you can’t back up your smack. King David sent a group of his advisors to visit Hanun, the new king of Ammon. The king’s advisors took David’s show of kindness as a ruse to spy out their land and conquer it. Hanun responded by humiliating David’s messengers. He took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away.

With beards covering only half their faces (beards were a big deal back in the day), and their buttocks showing, these men limped back in shame. After consoling his ambassadors, David set out to punish the king of Ammon. He did so thoroughly, with thousands dying and the nation coming under the control of Israel.

Hanun blundered in his statecraft. No war needed to start and no one needed to die. A gesture of kindness was reciprocated with callous reproach. I wonder why Hanun and his advisors were so untrusting? Hanun’s father treated well with David. Why the change? Was it pride, or fear, or simply men with chariots itching for a fight? Regardless, their foolish advice led to disaster.

I’m reminded to treat people with good intentions until proved otherwise. In this case, David extended a hand in friendship only to have it bitten off in return. To slap away a kindness, or ignore a sincere attempt at friendship, always results in reaping bitter fruit for yourself and those around you.

2 Samuel 10

Photo by Joseph Corl