simple truths

WINTER TREES Everyone loves the sight of Spring. Fresh, new. Full of hope and promise. The smell of ozone lingers in the air after rain And the vibrant colors of life emerging grab you. We bask in the warm rays of the summer sun And find useful, the respite of the canopy over head. Soothing shade cooling to your skin, like aloe And the verdant leaves brighten your gaze. And no one can deny the beauty of Autumn. As if all the work of Spring and Summer, were just to take you here. To this moment. A spectacular show of colorful acheivment. Who will say the Winter trees are lovely? Shed now of all their beauty and splendor. No longer of use to cover over you, nor to look at. Barren. Dormant. But, there is magic in Winter trees  They have faced every season. Their strength is evident. In every curve and the many branched lines reaching up. Solid and sturdy. The rings of the tree bestowed by the Winter. Where their status has been hard-earned by all the seasons before. The Winter trees a...

 There is much confusion in the world. Bad things happen to good people. Sometimes what seems good- can later be a curse. Sometimes, what seems bad, may end up the biggest blessing. Faith may give you some peace, solving half of the confusion- by giving you an outer post to focus your path. But the other half? How can you be sure that God has planned for your life the events that are occurring? How can we hold onto faith during trying times and be sure God is working in our lives toward a greater purpose? You may ask, 'Is this really what God wants for my life?" We may wrestle with the nagging thought- 'I did this to myself.' And that may be true. Remember, God does not punish us for our sins, as some religions may like to preach. The natural consequence of our sins is plenty. After all, what sin has ever worked in favor of a person- though it may feel that way temporarily- it will surely come back to you or those around you, having caused a negative ripple effect. Sin...