Sitting on the back of our carport in our lounge chairs with a final cup of morning coffee, we look straight at the little wooden shed Keith built over thirty years ago. Just on its front left is the sour orange tree I wrote about so long ago. It is as high as two sheds now, and that's after Keith cut the top out a few years back because we could no longer reach the oranges to pick them. Behind the shed stretches the long spreading arm of the live oak that stands well to its left. After that the yard is empty for maybe fifteen feet before another live oak, this one not nearly as old or large, grows just to the left of the equipment shed. Then the woods start in earnest, around the fire circle on one side and our doggy burial ground on the other, off to the creek and then the neighbor's own forested patch.
Most of the time, all you see is green—branches, limbs, sprigs, leaves, air plants, mold on the bark, all shades of that cool, verdant color. But early in the day, especially in the summer after a nighttime rain or a heavy dew or during a suffocating humidity, all that green literally drips with jewels. Most of the time we see "diamonds." As we sit there sipping we are facing east and the sun seeps through the cracks between limbs and leaves and refracts through the drops of water. Of course, the sun is still rising, and as it gradually moves up the angle will change sometimes just for a moment, but other times for several minutes. Suddenly the tree is dripping with sapphires as a pale blue light appears on each leaf. And when you are really lucky, a ruby shows up, glinting in the morning breeze and the slowly moving sunbeam, winking at you like a flirting girl.
We have a lot of fun looking for the hanging jewels on our trees. Which one will be lucky today and get a ruby? Who will only have plain, old sparkling diamonds? It matters where you sit, you see, and how the light hits those water drops from your particular angle. But, in truth, all of them are beautiful. Even a tree full of diamonds is far prettier than a plain old tree with no jewelry at all.
And how we look also depends upon how the Son shines on us.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God (John 3:19-21).
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36).
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8).
These passages make it plain that we can't just hang about like dewdrops on a tree waiting for the Son to shine on us. We must actively seek his light, showing it through a life of faith and good works. But once we do, once we submit ourselves to Him, He can turn us into diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, beautiful hearts living beautiful lives, sharing His light with the world. No matter how you started out, God can turn you into a gem.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Dene Ward
Most of the time, all you see is green—branches, limbs, sprigs, leaves, air plants, mold on the bark, all shades of that cool, verdant color. But early in the day, especially in the summer after a nighttime rain or a heavy dew or during a suffocating humidity, all that green literally drips with jewels. Most of the time we see "diamonds." As we sit there sipping we are facing east and the sun seeps through the cracks between limbs and leaves and refracts through the drops of water. Of course, the sun is still rising, and as it gradually moves up the angle will change sometimes just for a moment, but other times for several minutes. Suddenly the tree is dripping with sapphires as a pale blue light appears on each leaf. And when you are really lucky, a ruby shows up, glinting in the morning breeze and the slowly moving sunbeam, winking at you like a flirting girl.
We have a lot of fun looking for the hanging jewels on our trees. Which one will be lucky today and get a ruby? Who will only have plain, old sparkling diamonds? It matters where you sit, you see, and how the light hits those water drops from your particular angle. But, in truth, all of them are beautiful. Even a tree full of diamonds is far prettier than a plain old tree with no jewelry at all.
And how we look also depends upon how the Son shines on us.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God (John 3:19-21).
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36).
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8).
These passages make it plain that we can't just hang about like dewdrops on a tree waiting for the Son to shine on us. We must actively seek his light, showing it through a life of faith and good works. But once we do, once we submit ourselves to Him, He can turn us into diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, beautiful hearts living beautiful lives, sharing His light with the world. No matter how you started out, God can turn you into a gem.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Dene Ward
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