ZA MAGAZINE // seek truth.

Often in popular literature you will find people or circumstances that defy logic and reason. Usually these are the types of literature found in the fantasy or science fiction sections of your local bookstore. This genre is geared toward children, young adults, and those young at heart looking for adventure in a world that once existed or is yet to be created. Another genre with great appeal to children are oddly enough, children’s books. One might think it to be elementary to read a children’s book, but that does not limit the power of a simple message. That simplicity can bring you a world of understanding.

The children’s story ‘The Giving Tree’ by Shel Silverstein tells of the relationship between a young boy and a tree in a forest. The tree and the boy become best friends. The tree always provides the boy with what he wants: branches to swing from, shade to sit under, apples to snack on, branches to build a house. Making the boy happy makes the tree happy, but with time it becomes more challenging for the generous tree to meet his needs. When he asks for money, she suggests that he sell her apples. When he asks for a house, she offers her branches for lumber. When the boy is old, too old and sad to play in the tree, he asks the tree for a boat. She suggests that he cut her down to a stump so he can craft a boat out of her trunk. He unthinkingly does it. At this point in the story, the double-page spread shows a pathetic solitary stump, poignantly cut down to the heart the boy once carved into the tree as a child that said “M.E. + T.” “And then the tree was happy… but not really.”

The boy leaves the tree, now a stump.

Many years later, the boy, now an old man, returns and the tree says, “I have nothing left to give you.” The boy replies that all he needs is a quiet place to sit and rest. The tree happily obliges.

Some people see a self-sacrificing tree as the center of the story. I do also, but altruism is not the main reason for my reference to this children’s conundrum of a bed-time story. This story can be an illustration of how we as Christians are always seeking to know God and get closer to God everyday. Not only that, but also the fact that God has the ability and the desire to continually give to us.

The Tree (God) gives freely, and Christians (the boy) should ask for the gifts being given to us incessantly. Let’s break down the elements of the plot to better illustrate this analogy.

The tree gives the boy shade from the sun :: God will provide shelter from the evil in the world.

2 Samuel 22:2-4
2 He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

The tree gives the boy apples for food :: God will give you spiritual sustenance that can keep you alive.

1 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

The tree gives the boy timber for a house :: God will help you build a solid foundation for your life.

Matthew 7:24
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The tree gives the boy a boat in which to sail away :: God will help you reach your goals and aspire to go anywhere in His name.

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

In an important part of the story, the tree is cut down to build a boat. The story says, “And then the tree was happy…but not really.” How does this line reflect the analogy? When does God become unhappy?

When you sail away from God, taking what He has given you (blessings) and squandering them on the pursuits of the world. We are not made of this world, and it is our duty and our purpose to be close to God. We can’t sail away and expect to have God happy with us. But this declaration leads to the best part of my analogy…

The boy, now an old man returns to the tree. The tree says, “I have nothing left to give you.” But the old man says that he needs just a place to sit and rest. The tree can do that, and this parallels God’s role in the lives of all Christians.

We as Christians might think that if we stray, if we build that boat and sail away from God that he won’t take us back. That’s inconceivable. God will always take us back!

Psalm 103:12
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

It also points to the fact that even if we think the tree (God) has nothing left to give us or show us, he can surprise us with more wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and blessings. God will always have more for us, until we join Him in Heaven.

Do not leave God like the stump in the story. God wants you to continually take what He has for you, but do not run away from His presence! However, even if you do, take comfort that God will always take you back. God will forever be the giving tree of blessings, no matter how long you have been away from Him.

I challenge you to seek God even if you think He has nothing left to show you. He has a wealth of wisdom to bestow upon us, we just have to ask!