Parable of the Old Sprawling Tree

Parable of the Old Sprawling Tree

An old sprawling tree with crusty bark, deeply embedded roots, twists, turns, and intertwining branches, despite its noticeable scars, symbolizes a deeply purposeful life to me.

The resilient survivor continues to thrive regardless of its battered appearance. It looks like it was a standing witness in a war zone. Its roots are deep. They are tapped into a flowing subterranean river, unnoticeable to the casual observer. This nourishment is the source of life for the tree, allowing it to burst with vigor in the spring and weather the packs of snowy ice in the seemingly prolonged mid-winter.

The bark is like a topographical map with contour lines giving it depth and character. They tell a story. The nooks, crannies, and evident healed injury provide a rich and diverse environment for many creatures. The birds in particular find hidden crevices where their nests are camouflaged to protect their young. The leaves offer a dappled and cooling shade on long summer days.

The intertwining branches speak of relationships formed over time, so the tree doesn't feel alone, even though it stands solitary on an open field.

There are noticeable wounds from pruning in its early life and from an epic storm that ripped through the area during one of the hardest, coldest winters on record. Though the wind blew on it mightily, the tree was not shaken.

Yet, it thrives. The tree, having endured substantial tests in life, continues to flourish, a testament to its quiet endurance.

And, if there comes a day when the axe falls, this weathered old tree, the wood will be magnificent - gnarly, curly, and rippled with a strength and a fiber suitable for the finest of use in the furniture of a chosen family. An inquisitive and sensitive soul may ask in a future generation, "Tell me about this unusual and exquisite piece of furniture, and what kind of tree caused this beauty?"