Clearing Fallen Trees

If a pastor falls in the woods, does anyone see it?

What a beautiful sunny day it was on Thursday (3/26/20). We were clearing an old trail through the woods and came upon a fallen tree. It was about eighteen inches in diameter and had taken several other trees with it, most of them pretty small, but one was almost the same size. I am always amazed at how strong some trees are. In my own back yard there are five very large oak trees, I’ve named them Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul. They all branch off from the main trunk rather close to the ground. Each of the four or five main branches then angles off, away from the centerline. The amount of weight carried in each of those branches is enormous, but they don’t break.

The tree I had to remove Thursday was smaller then any of the five main branches in any of the oaks in my back yard, but I can tell you it was a brute. Cutting it up was no problem but I was equally amazed by the smaller trees taken down by the big one. Some of them did break but others were simply folded over in an arch like a rainbow, again without breaking. God’s design of these things is remarkable.

Nathaniel had gone to get something so I was working alone, clearing some of the smaller pieces and brush. There was quite a mess of intertwined and overlapping branches and thorn bushes I was working through, tring to throw other pieces down over the hill when my foot got caught. You know that feeling of having a long time to think about your fall in the few seconds it takes to hit the ground? Well, I seemed to have a long conversation with myself as I plummeted to into the web of thorns and brush. First it was the disbelief that I was going down. Then came the planning stage as I tried to locate the best spot for my hands and knees to hit. Next was the conclusion that this was going to be painful. As the impact began with my knee, I determined it was so-far-so-good, but my hands were next and all I could see was thorns rushing toward my arms and face. Then came the thud of my body crashing against brush and dirt. Trying to be cool about it, it popped back up pretty quickly, looking around to see I anyone had witnessed my clumsiness. Then the final stage of the fall, the assessment of injuries and damage. To my amazement, no pain struck anywhere. There were no cuts, no blood, not even a scratch! I couldn’t believe it; still can’t for that matter especially given the damage I did to some small branches and brush which were smashed like a bulldozer came through. I stood in utter disbelief.

So, what did I learn from all of this? I learned much.

First, I thought about that big tree as I cut it apart into smaller pieces. This once tall, healthy tree had rotted at the base and with the help of some heavy rain, soaked earth and a strong wind it fell.

Second, as I cut up some of the smaller trees, they had been growing, healthy trees but they were severely damaged or totally broken when the big tree fell.

Third, the collapse of all those trees created quite a mess that had be cleared away, requiring time care and effort that could have gone to some other project.

Forth, clearing the mess was itself hazardous due to the underling brush and thorns.

Fifth, as the one clearing that mess, I soon found myself lying on the ground, having fallen in the effort of cleaning the mess already made.

All of that is pretty straight forward, no earth shattering news there, but here is what I started to piece together as I sat on the tailgate of Nathaniel’s truck:

Sixth, when someone in the church or in your family fall, especially a leader, he falls when God’s way of escape is repeatedly not taken when temptation comes because he is not clinging to Christ. Then, sin takes its toll and rot or disease sets in; when the storms of life come it’s too much and he is broken. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we read, “No temptation has overtake you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Seventh, his fall creates collateral damage, injuring or breaking others in any number of ways including spiritual, physical, financial, relational and emotional. Matthew 18:6 tells us, “Whoever causes one of these little ones (young or immature in the faith) to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Eighth, the mess that is created by the fall and collateral damage takes great time, care and effort to sort through and clear out. Great care must be taken because we’re not talking about trees being hacked up with a chainsaw anymore, we’re talking about people. In 2 Timothy 2:24-26 we find, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Ninth, clearing that mess is a landmine of trouble with spiritual danger to those cleaning up who must be careful lest they also fall. Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Tenth, you and I must always be vigilant. No one heads into any situation planning to stumble or fall, but it happens. One minute we’re busy about our business and the next thing we know we’re face down in a thorn bush with our leg caught in a web of underbrush. We jump up, looking around to see if anyone caught it. in 1 Timothy 4:13 it is written, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

The lessons God had for me out in the woods on that beautiful day were very real. I was just out enjoying some sunshine and a little manual labor, but He had something else in mind. The big tree and the other trees blocking the path were a hazard that I needed to clear, in the process I found myself unexpectedly lying on the ground. While I came out unscathed physically, I was touched by His spiritual lessons. Guard yourself by clinging to Christ so you’re not the one falling and causing collateral damage, care for your bothers and sisters in Christ too, and take great care when clearing some spiritual mess lest you also fall.

May the Lord watch over you, protect you, and keep you close to Him.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Mark