Beautiful Tree

Alfred Joyce Kilmer (6 December 1886 – 30 July 1918) was an American journalist and poet who wrote one of my favourite poems.  It goes like this:

I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.

I love trees - arbutus, lodgepole pines, Douglas firs, cedars, corkscrew willows, pink dogwoods, Japanese maples, California redwoods.  Each of these has unique significance, representing or reminding me of something precious in my history.  And the picture below shows what has happened in my recent history.

Notice how the extra branches are now visible, sticking out in all directions - the core is of the tree is solid, but it is pretty obvious where some trimming has to happen.  The last 10 months have been about many changes, one of the most significant being the stripping away of many good things that I was involved in. 

• full-time classroom teacher
• math teacher inquiry project
• Terrific Kids program
• SFU – Surrey cohort
• SFU – Abbotsford cohort
• ADTA staff rep
• BCTF Teacher Inquiry facilitator
• BCTF parent presenter
• foster parent training
• Sweet Adelines chorus

As a result, the core of who I am, my sense of self, has been strengthened.  My life now looks like this tree:

Now I see things from this perspective of Psalm 1:1-3 and I am thankful for God's grace...

Blessed is the one

   who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

  and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

   which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.