Altar Call –
Opelika-Auburn News
Walter Albritton
September 4, 2016
A little walk in
the woods can help your soul
Now and then I need
a little walk in the woods. That is good medicine for exhaustion. Constant
running drains me even though I enjoy staying busy. Sooner or later I have to
turn off the engine and allow my soul to catch up with my body.
Recently I pulled out
of the fast lane and found my way to the woods. In a secluded place I took time
to enjoy sitting on a log under a large Oak tree. The tree was alive and
strong; it was not running, just standing there doing what Oak trees do. It
needed no help from me to provide shade for any creatures that chose to enjoy
it. The little birds flittering above my head seemed to calm my spirit.
Squirrels jumping from limb to limb made me wonder if they ever take time to
relax in their nests.
Gentle specks of
sunshine filtering through the tree leaves made me feel alive. And a gentle
breeze made me wonder why I do not spend more time quietly allowing my inner
wheels to stop spinning.
The water of the
small pond nearby was peaceful, disturbed only by the two ducks that came near
the shore for lunch. They seemed not to notice me as they nervously gulped down
seed from tall grass. They are eating too fast, I thought; they’ll have
indigestion. But I had no right to judge them; my wife says I eat too fast
also.
The ground under
the tree was sprinkled with dead leaves and acorns. I picked up an acorn and
let it teach me. “This big tree was once as small as me,” it said. I sat there
for a long time thinking about the wonder of it all – that a tiny acorn can
become a huge tree. And for that matter a small deed of mercy can become an
enormous blessing.
You can worship
under a sprawling Oak tree. I did. That tree became something of a sanctuary.
While corporate worship is essential, solitary worship can be helpful also.
Alone with God you can get in touch with yourself – and you can discover what
the Psalmist David meant when he said, “He restores my soul.”
I thought about the
Psalmist’s description of a righteous man: “He shall be like a tree planted by
streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not
wither.” I am like that Oak tree; its life depends upon the nourishment of the
earth and water. I must allow my soul to be nourished by God in order to bear
the fruit he expects from my life.
The Prophet Isaiah
likens God’s people to Oak trees. He describes them this way: “In their
righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his
own glory.” I have been blessed by knowing a few men who seemed to me to be
“Oaks of righteousness.” Would to God that someday I might be known as
one.
Under that Oak tree
I felt free to talk aloud to God; the squirrels and birds did not seem to mind.
I thanked him for my blessings – my wife and family, my friends, the doors he
has opened for me, and the years he has given me. I tried to be real. I think
he welcomes that.
With the sun slowly setting, and
darkness descending, I realized my reflection time had come to an end. I
thanked the old tree for its kindness and made my way home. As I walked away I
heard God whispering in my heart, “I am glad you enjoyed your walk in the
woods, my son. I enjoy restoring your soul and giving you fresh energy for the
rest of the journey. We should meet like this more often.”
I smiled, thankful for the reminder that my Father loves me, warts and all. The joy of those moments apart lingers still. + + +