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Hello Great Family,

Here I sit in my office with bare feet because my shoes and socks got soaked with all the flooding waters. I'll get back to that in a moment. First, here is what is happening at Oakwood:

  • Saturday, April 19th - Bring your pop can and bottle returnables to Oakwood's parking lot from 9am - 4pm. The Zysk family is hosting this fund raising opportunity for the family of Raymond Brown who recently died of cancer.
  • Friday 6:30pm, April 24th - OYA Worship and the Word event
  • Saturday 9:30am, April 25th - Women's Sit & Sip event
  • Friday, April 24th - Milling begins on parking lot
  • Monday & Tuesday, April 27-28 - Final paving on parking lot (Church office closed)

Now back to how we are all saturated with water... Months ago, DTE contacted me and asked if they could remove one of my willow trees growing into the power lines. I immediately told them to take both willow trees. I have had a strained relationship with these trees since we moved in eleven years ago. Willows are messy and annoying to mow under. I was happy to get rid of them.

However, DTE came and whacked just the tops off leaving me some very ugly, gnarly, and evil looking former flora. While driving past these monstrosities, I mentioned to my wife that I was planning to take them completely down to which she replied, "Don't do that. We need them to suck up all the extra water we get in that area."  Apparently, willow trees are excellent at absorbing lots of water. That is most likely why they were planted in that area years ago (without looking up to notice the poor placement).

So here is my dilemma. Those trees are severely damaged and ugly but they serve an important purpose. My wife thinks they will bounce back and eventually look decent but I am impatient and despise the fact that everyone who drives past our home sees those eyesores and probably thinks, "How long do we have to see this mess...What is that idiot doing?" Honestly, I am not sure what is going to happen next in this saga but I do know this, I will have to balance my issues with my wife's happiness.

I tell you this story to bring up something of spiritual significance. When we experience people who have been battered and beat down by the complexities of this life whether by their own choices or as victims of others, we should not immediately assume they need to be removed because of our impatience with imperfection. Everyone has value and worth as a person made in the image of God. Also, everyone has purpose and hope for re-growth. Just like troubling trees that also help in high-water areas, some people are seen for only their troubles and not their value. Perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to cut them down only to leave a void in that place.

Thankfully, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not be cut down and discarded. Always remember, it is by God's grace that He saved you...so show grace to others who God sent His Son to die for. This is probably why Jesus was known as a friend of sinners and told people that He was sent for the sick. Let's be like Jesus!

God Bless,
P.D. (Psalm 139)