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Deep in a Californian Park
With branches stretching high
A Redwood tree with rugged bark
Stood tall against the sky.
Adapted to the forest glade
The tree for years had stood
Giving protection in its shade
To wildlife in the wood.
The scorching sun hung in the sky
As temperatures soared higher
The timbers in the wood grew dry,
And brought the risk of fire.
Some campers in the forest there
Used matches in the dark
And went to sleep, quite unaware
Of one small glowing spark.
The glowing spark, fanned by the breeze
Was blown a thousand ways
And flames shot up amid the trees
In an infernal blaze.
The Redwood bark has been designed
To burn to finest loam
A plan in the Creator's mind
To give new seeds a home.
The cones concealed high in the tree
React with heat and burst
Hundreds of tiny seeds flung free
Into the Redwood dust.
The case around the seed dries up
Each lying where they drop
Till from the ashes, they rise up
A multiplying crop.
Thus many lessons can be learned
Which nature will display
When troubles come, and hopes are burned
Or loved ones pass away.
For in the ashes of our loss
New seeds of hope are sown
To rise in faith through Jesus' cross
And make His life our own.
He does not send us trial and storm
To beat us with His rod
But in the fire we see His form
And find true faith in God.
So in the trials faced before,
Or new ones which you see
Reflect awhile and thank Him for
The burning Redwood tree.
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