A Beautiful Tree

Once a beautiful tree – silent and strong Vibrating with the storms and winds Delighting in the shimmer of starlight The reflections of the sun and moon The music of birdsong and the whispers Of leaves falling on the Autumn’s calm The time was near – the Savior of the world Would become the sacrifice for our sin The reason we could reach out to Him And learn to live again – forgiven, redeemed! Once a beautiful tree – vital and wise Brilliant as the fresh, sparkling dew Dazzling as the laughter of a breeze More imaginative than the artistic soul Reassuring the mind of its kindness Falling from crisp, tranquil limbs The time was near – the deliverer would supply The sacrifice for all we had seen – our wrongs The things we would like to forget we’d seen The things we would like to forget we’d been Once a beautiful tree – hushed by the pain Of One who hung from its strongest limb Felt the sting of tears and blood, stained By the darkness of a sin filled world, a hurt Bound up in the naked form of One who came To relieve hearts of the shame and disgrace Free us all of the depravity that haunts The failures and flaws and faults That bring us to our knees – to the cross That was once a beautiful tree… Planted by the hand of God!