Dancing Trees

On a windy day, I passed by a magnificent magnolia tree holding court at the top of a hill. Having stood there for countless years, the trunk and branches demanded respect, if only for longevity, but it was the way they danced in the breeze that took my breath away. Swirling along with the wind, the tree twisted back and forth. The branches clacked against one another, while the leaves made the sound of applause.

It would be easy to look at the sight and marvel at the tree, but the performance was not a solo act. The tree, impressive on its own, would only stand stationary without the breeze. It's what causes the tree to ignite with life and dance in place above me. All I can see is the tree, but it’s the wind that causes the dance.

I live in a grove of wonderful trees. Some are old and others are saplings, some grand and others easy to overlook . . .  but when the wind arrives and blows through our congregation, magic happens. This one sways this way; that one swirls in another direction. The leaves seem to applaud their song of delight.

It’s lively, to say the least, but there’s more to things than what we see. No tree is a solo act. It’s the breeze that ignites the placid grove. It’s easy to forget the wind when a tree is dancing, just like it’s easy to forget the Holy Spirit when a preacher is preaching, a volunteer serving, painter painting, and author writing.

But it’s the wind, always the wind, that causes trees like you and me to dance.