Allured by the sweet melody of songbirds, I began to scale the elm tree that spread its vast branches to encompass and shelter the yard. To reach the first mighty branch, I swung on a white, interwoven rope, and repeating this, I gracefully achieved a position on the tree’s second arm. Here, however, the ten foot braid ended and left me to fend for myself. The gradually slimming limbs of the grand elm formed a rugged stairway of fifteen feet which was clambered by eagerly meticulous me. Should I journey further? The dense twigs above refused passage, begging me cease and survey what I had conquered.

A rewarding look around disclosed my school off in the distance, the cross upon the steeple of the church I love, and the image of an almond blossom on the welcoming sign of Ripon’s main street. A hummingbird, curious as to why a human was in his home, buzzed around me in such propinquity that I could have touched him, click, click, clicking to me all the while. I looked up at the sky so near, and the sun so distant, and the ground so far, and I knew what I had not known before.

People think it odd that I enjoy the art of tree-climbing; they do not understand, but neither did I. Until now. God, the Lord, my Father and greatest Friend – He showed Himself to me in everything up there. Though never one to feel comfortable at great height, here I felt as if He held me. The great tree He had so wonderfully created and caused to spring up out of the ground would not let me fall. It portrayed the Lord’s strength. The birds, beautiful and gentle, put me in awe of God’s creativity. When I saw the whole of my city, with my church and school, I could not deny how much I had been blessed. Never could these important phenomena disappear from my life.

Though I had no desire to leave the beautiful sanctuary I had discovered, it was time. After discovering everything that God presented as important to my life, I had to go out and live that life. With a glance back at the elm, I returned home.