I remember this time last year, I was convinced that the tree, in the corner of my yard, was dead. A close friend owns a tree service, and we discussed taking it out. Given that I was sure it was dead, I thought that taking it out made sense. He suggested that I wait until spring to be sure. The tree is more like a shrub than a mighty oak; it looks just five feet or so off the top of the fence. There is no threat of its branches falling down and damaging anything. Other than possibly attracting termites, there was no harm in letting the tree remain there a bit longer.
A year later, the tree looks exactly like it did last year; the tree looks dead.
The difference is that this year I know that in the spring, the tree will begin to sprout leaves, and by the middle of spring, it will fill the corner of my backyard with its beauty. By the end of spring, the tree will grow figs. The tree is not only very much alive, but it is a fig tree! I love figs; I am obsessed with figs. Come spring, the race will be on between me and the squirrels to gather the plump, delicious figs. This explains how the adorably chubby squirrel that lives in my backyard maintains his physique.
The tree brings beauty and desirable treats to those around it. The tree holds its leaves until fall, when they drop suddenly and romantically from its branches. The tree gives the squirrels and the cats a fun little jungle gym like structure to run through. Yet, when I first met the tree, I thought it was dead. I did not see any value in it.
I met the tree is the worst of its four seasons. I almost did not give it time to show me all its seasons, all of itself. Now, having seen all of its four season, I look upon its bare, winter branches, and I see immense beauty. In my mind, I see God’s beautiful creation resting for a bit before it is time again to bring me and the squirrels the happiness of its fruit.
Sitting on my back porch, looking at the solemn tree, makes me wonder, how often do we meet someone and only see a fraction of all of who they are? How often do we judge our own selves by a single bad moment or failure without considering all that we are? The year that has past has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone, figuratively 2020 for us was like the fig tree’s winter. Let us not judge ourselves or one another by our winter. Let us look forward to the spring and begin to appreciate all that each one of us can be.
I look forward to the figs of 2021.