Psalm 71:18-19 – O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. Your power and your righteousness, O God, reach the highest heavens.

Our congregation gave a gift not long ago. It was a gift in honour of a wonderful woman of one hundred years. What do you get for someone turning one hundred? Let me tell you what we did as a congregation.

We bought a tree for the woman.

We bought a young tree.

We bought a young tree to give shade and beauty to a building in honour of a hundred year old woman.

The building is not yet built.

We gave the gift of a young tree not yet planted to shade the grounds beside a building not yet built in honour of a hundred year old woman who, as likely as not, will never see the shade of the tree or even see it planted.

We did it as an affirmation of faith in the future. And in so doing, the words of Elton Trueblood come alive for us and aid our understanding, as he says: "People have made at least a start in understanding the meaning of life when they plant shade trees under which they know full well they will never sit."

Prayer: Lord God: I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. Amen.

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About the author:

Kenn Stright <kennethstright@yahoo.ca>
West Petpeswick, Nova Scotia, Canada
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