oak

The bones of the oak tree that had stood by the spring branch during my youth were scattered about the ground, pieces of the skeleton of a majestic life that had passed while I was off growing up and old.

Think of the self that God has given as an acorn. It is a marvelous little thing, a perfect shape, perfectly designed for its purpose, perfectly functional. Think of the grand glory of an oak tree. God__ intention when He made the acorn was the oak tree. His intention for us is __ the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ._ Many deaths must go into our reaching that measure, many letting-goes. When you look at the oak tree, you don__ feel that the loss_ of the acorn is a very great loss. The more you perceive God__ purpose in your life, the less terrible the losses seem.

Perfection"Every oak will lose a leaf to the wind.Every star-thistle has a thorn.Every flower has a blemish.Every wave washes back upon itself.Every ocean embraces a storm.Every raindrop falls with precision.Every slithering snail leaves its silver trail.Every butterfly flies until its wings are torn.Every tree-frog is obligated to sing.Every sound has an echo in the canyon.Every pine drops its needles to the forest floor.Creation's whispered breath at dusk comeswith a frost and leaves within dawn's faint mist,for all of existence remains perfect, adorned,with a dead sparrow on the ground.(Poem titled : 'Perfection' by R.H.Peat)

The bleached ceilings, walls, and floors gleam in perfection. Drained of color, wiped of contamination, forever untainted they exist; a cold reminder of my purity.

And Seaman, just like a falling oak, manages to change direction.

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut, that held its ground.

Autumn flings her fiery cloak over the sumac, beech and oak.