As I started my day this morning, I was feeling a bit unmotivated and in a rut. I needed a boost of creativity and some exercise. So, I decided to go for a walk and listen to some music. As I was walking, I passed by this interesting looking tree. I’ve seen this tree millions of times over the 10 years that I’ve lived in Laramie. But this time when I was standing there, something caught my eye. I noticed that it had an interesting bend to it.
After taking a picture of this tree, I continued with my walk. I returned home from my walk and looked at the picture I had taken and realized something. Even bent and crooked trees have a purpose. This crooked tree is still living and breathing. It’s still taking in carbon dioxide and generating oxygen. It’s still providing birds and other animals with a home and food. It’s still providing shade for the animals and people in the park. It’s still doing other tree things despite its bent trunk and it’s still a beautiful tree. This tree experienced something early on in its life that caused this bend to take shape. Maybe it was related to a lawn mower getting too close or some animal laying on it. I don’t know what caused that bend, but I do know that this tree is still thriving. It’s still living out its purpose and bringing glory to this world. It’s still able to impact the world despite its huge bend. It’s able to do so many wonderful things even though its noticeably different.
Growing up in a family of construction experts and creatives, I have learned to appreciate interesting looking trees. My family built an incredible log house that took a long time to build. Because of this, I think this tree has a lot of character. I also think this tree is a lot like many of us. We all have our various bends, breaks and chipped pieces within our lives that affect us. Because of these bends or breaks, many of us feel like we are not good enough.
Like many people, I have felt like I am not good enough to pursue the dreams or desires that God has placed in my heart. I think that the people I have hurt or the things I have done make me unqualified to lead people or share my thoughts and ideas. To some extent I think many people think this way and allow the world to tell us lies. I think we all have experiences that impact us and define our lives in huge ways. Some good and some not so much. We go through trials that shape who we are as people and influence our daily lives. We allow our bent and brokenness to define us. We allow the lies of the world to influence us and hold us back. I’m gonna be blunt. That’s a lie and we need to stop listening to those lies because we can live out our purpose.
In the midst of our pain, brokenness and our sorrow, there is a God that loves us and wants a relationship with us. No matter what our life looks like, no matter what you are going through or experiencing, you are beautiful in the eyes of a savior that loves you. Plain and simple. It doesn’t matter what you have done or haven’t done. It doesn’t matter who you voted for or didn’t vote for. It doesn’t matter if you are bent like this tree or have gotten through life unscathed because God still loves you and sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for you. Its through his love and grace that restores our brokenness.
Much like that bent tree, I believe that you have a purpose and God has a plan for your life. I think God can use any situation, big or small, to impact the world through you. Allow God to use your situation for his glory. Like that bent tree, I think you can still have an impact on this world and those around you. I think this tree is bent but beautiful much like many of us.