Down Will Come Baby, Cradle and All...

Down Will Come Baby, Cradle and All

Theology in the Trenches

by Kathleen Kjolhaug

Well, there certainly was no cradle in the tree when the winds blew. There was, however, a raccoon or two, or three, or four, or five. Yup, the whole little family waddled on over to a new tree when the winds decided to topple the big basswood which had been offering shade to our home throughout the years of our married life.

Long before we were married it had taken root. Now, it was gone. Slowly rotting away from the inside out it had been for quite some time. My husband and I would debate several times a year as to where it would land if it were to topple over. My best guess was that it would land smack dab in the middle of our living room. He dismissed my concerns as he thought it would land far to the left of the driveway…well away from the house.

As he slept on one evening, I did not. I finally roused him as the winds they did blow. Soon, lightning flashed every few seconds and thunder followed keeping us both on our toes. As he looked out the main window, he assured me that these winds were not as strong as some he’d seen in the past and that I was not to worry. I was able to take him up on that advice cause it’s difficult to worry when one is in sheer terror.

Soon, I noticed he was no longer pacing the floor, but rather, camped out in a chair right next to a large window which framed him nicely with each flash of lightning. And the tree? Well, it too was framed right behind the large window in front of which he sat.

Minutes later, into the opposite side of the house we both did scamper. Perhaps it was my incessantly high pitched screeching suggesting that perhaps he should remove himself from such a location that made him jog in my direction. This time, as he moved on past another large window, we both noticed the green leaves swaying radically close to the front railing of the front porch. Twice the lightning lit up the surrounding area…and twice we noticed a large treelike formation that was not there prior to the storm.

Not to worry, because in the middle of a lightning storm with high winds, in order to clarify the situation, one need merely take a flashlight and not only turn it on but go out of doors to check on things. Yup…twice he meandered out that front door to see what was going on with those large leaves flapping nearby. This time, I kept my high pitch thoughts to myself.

Apparently, heading to the basement wasn’t manly enough, and my pleas of making a quick getaway went unheeded. Upon returning from his second lap around the open porch facing the natural disaster, he was proud to point out that he had moved both vehicles out of harm's way just prior to the storm hitting.

The miracles that followed were many. Coworkers came to help clean it up…a beautiful stump was carved for a flower pot next summer…boards were cut for carving…and new views will be waiting. The colorful maple tree that had been hidden will now be seen, and there is more room for dreaming of what to put into the space we didn’t have before.

Was it sad the tree came down? Yes. However, there are new vistas around every disaster just waiting to be seen. What might be a disaster for some are miracles for others. Although the tree didn’t fall to the left of the driveway as predicted, it did miss the living room and the vehicles. Each one is a miracle.

Miracles are messy…keep your eyes open for them…you want them…they are gifts.

Deuteronomy 10:21 confirms it.  “He is the one you praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.”  Amen.