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I’ve been fascinated by this tree leaning over the pond in our back yard since we’ve been here.  It looks like it’s at about a 25 degree angle—not quite normal for what we might expect of a flourishing tree!  But flourish it does, showing the wonder of resilience in God’s creation.
 
Resilience is that capacity to “keep on keepin’ on,” despite challenges, obstacles, differences, wounds and more, and I find resilience to be so inspiring.  I think I mentioned in one of my ponderings earlier this year, being so inspired on one of our ski trips, seeing both a blind skier, and someone skiing on one of those ski sleds you may have seem to equip many with physically handicapping conditions to keep going, to be “resilient.”
 
Much of our Bible is filled with inspiring stories of resilience, from either people or communities who are enslaved, subjugated, oppressed, in poverty, in need of hope and healing, or even in prison—yet they keep on keepin’ on in spite of it all, in the power of the Spirit, or in the strength of Jesus, whose “strength is made perfect in weakness.”
 
Unfortunately, we still have countless people and communities facing oppression, subjugation, poverty, and in need of hope and healing.  Healing sometimes involves “fixing” a condition—we have plenty of these kinds of healing stories both in our Bible and in our own experience.  But healing can also come as helping or empowering  God’s children to flourish in atypical situations—like this tree in my yard.  We of the church are called to be in the business of hope, healing and resilience—not just for people and communities whom we like or who might be “like us,” but for all Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve.
 
When I first saw this tree, I wondered if it would be possible to straighten it up again.  But it shares what is perhaps an even better sign of hope, resilience, and thriving just as it is!  A gentle reminder from God’s speaking universe, that thriving in God’s plan can happen in all kinds of ways. 
 
Keep being a blessing and thriving, however you find yourself-- PJ