One of my favorite things to do is to observe wood.  Strange, I know, but I love it. I love to see the grain, the rings that are made where a branch was, where the heartwood meets the sapwood and think about what part of this tree the wood came from

On Sunday, Daniel talked about a pair of trees that God created when he made the Garden of Eden.The tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The tree of knowledge of good and evil represents the fall of men and the tree of life reflects the way God designed us to exist. Between these two trees, there stands the tree that Jesus died on to pay the price of the fall and reconcile us to God. I thought this was a beautiful visual of our life as Christians. Even though we can not live as God designed us to here on earth, the price of sin is already paid and one day we will be with the Father in Heaven.

God created us to be in relationship with Him, and then sacrificed his only Son to bring us back into that relationship. However,  we are here "between the trees"  trying to figure out how to live as we were designed, in a world that we were not created to live in. It is hard for me to think of a time when there was no sin, hunger, pain, or death. Many days I am not even aware that the world was made to function differently than it does now. I am easily caught in the trap that this world is all there is and forget that we were made for a higher purpose.  

At work I become jaded, annoyed with repeat patients that abuse the system. I do not treat patients with the care or respect that the love of Christ would show them.  In my parenting, I am short with my daughter, expecting her to behave well and listen, even though she is not even 2.  My marriage is where I see this the most.  I lack grace and patience, being quick to become frustrated and speak out of anger. At church I serve to make myself look like a good Christian.  All of this sin hits me and I see how broken I truly am. The cross in between the two trees is what gives us purpose and allows us to flourish. We were given the responsibility to tend and care for the earth and its inhabitants. This means that we are to treat those we come into contact with respect.  We need to care for our children with grace, nurturing them to know the Lord and showing them what it means to walk with Him. In our marriages it means being patient and compassionate towards our spouses, serving them above ourselves. In our communities we should show unconditional love and not judge those around us.  Christ taught us to love those that are placed in our path, regardless of the situation.I long for the day when the world is righted, sin is no more, and Christ reigns on high. It is a hope that we hold on to because of what Christ did for us on the tree.

~ Stephen Siebert