Thought for Today
Exodus 15:27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.
Psalm 104:16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
Matthew 21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
John 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!"
I cannot imagine there is anyone reading this who is unaware that next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Each year on Palm Sunday, I remember all those years I was part of the Children’s Choir or the Youth Choir at Bethany Christian Church in Houston. On Palm Sunday the choirs always processed down that long central aisle waving palm branches. Each boy knew that his mother was sitting where she could observe him, making sure he waved his palm branch properly (not in the face of another child!), was dressed presentably and singing cheerfully. Of course, I was always behaving properly; but, some of my friends were ‘mischievous.’
Houston is on a coastal plain. Along the Texas Gulf Coast, palm trees are common. Houston is also on the southern end of what is known as the Big Thicket. One of Houston’s large municipal parks, Memorial Park, maintains that density of oaks, pines, sweet gums and other trees. As one travels south and east toward the coast, palms become more frequent. By the time one gets to Galveston Island, palms predominate.
Here in New England, there are no palm trees. We have pines, oaks, willows and many other varieties of trees. When I was younger and still working as an engineer, I made 2 trips to Saudi Arabia. I saw no pines, oaks or willows . . . but there were occasional groves of palm trees. “The King James Version of the Bible mentions thirty-seven differently named trees. Some species, such as cypress, shittah, ash, and teil, appear only once. Others, notably the palm, olive, fig, and cedar, occur many times.” (www.theholyscript.com)
The internet also tells me, There are over 60,000 species of trees. Trees globally fall into four categories: deciduous, evergreen, angiosperms, and gymnosperms. The Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has been working for over two years, consulting over 500 published sources and liaising with experts all over the world to find the answer – 60,065 tree species.. There are more than 70,000 different species of trees, which are also known as ‘types’ of tree.” (globaltrees.org)
Why did God create so many different kinds and ‘types’ of trees? Why different categories? I do not know. Does the answer really make any difference? Probably not to my life or yours. I do know that having grown up when and where I did, I have always loved trees. I have always been partial to the pines, oaks and sweetgums of my youth; but, I came to love the spruce and aspen trees of Colorado as we often vacationed there. Now I love to look out the windows behind my computer and watch the pines, oaks and beeches surrounding the field behind our home. I love to watch the apple trees we have planted, the blue spruces and Alberta spruces, the dogwoods and crab apple tree in our yard.
But, especially this week and all during Lent, I remember the palm trees and the children waving branches as Jesus entered Jerusalem. The joy and exuberance of everyone celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry. I love the pageantry and I love our celebration of that entry.
It has been many years since I processed down that ‘infinite’ central aisle at Bethany. Even were I to process down an aisle at First Parish Church of Newbury, sadly my mother could not be there in person to watch and to make sure my robe was on straight and my hair combed properly. But, I will still love next Sunday and our commemoration of Jesus’ final entrance into Jerusalem. I pray that you will also.
Stay safe, be aware of the season, trust God,
Pastor Ray