Saturday, December 20, 2008

In the middle of [the city's] main street, and on each side of the river, was a tree of life bearing twelve fruits, which were produced month ny month, and the leaves of the tree were for The Healing Of The Nations. Rev. 22:2.

I am told that the following story is true, but even if it is only a parable, it touches my heart with a glimpse of what the healing of the nations is all about.

On the eastern shore of Maryland the gentle waters run in and out of the land like fingers. The Candian geese know this place, as do the white swans and the ducks that ride the waves of Chesapeake Bay as they skim their way into harbor. In the autumn they come home by the thousands for the winter. The swans move toward the shores in stately glide, their tall head proud and unafraid. An indifference, almost a disdain, exists between the swans and the geese.

Once or twice each year snow and sleet move into the area. When this happens and a river is narrow or shallow enough, a freeze turns the water to ice. It was on such a morning that a woman looked out of her window as the snow laced the rim of the river's storm had painted. Suddenly she spotted a goose in the river, very still, its wings folded right to its sides, its feet frozen to the ice.

Then she saw a line of swans in the dark skies. As the woman watched, the lead bird swung to the right, then the white string of birds became a white circle. It floated from the top of the sky downward. At last, as easy as feathers coming to earth, the circle landed on the ice. As the swans surrounded the frozen goose, she feared that those large swan bills might peck out what life the goose still had left. Instead, those bills began to work on the ice. After some time a narrow margin of ice instead of the entire creek now rimmed the bird. The goose's head lifted. Its body pulled. Then the goose was free and standing on the ice.

Then, as if he had cried "I cannot fly," four of the swans apprached again. Their powerful beaks scraped the goose's wings from top to bottom and nibbled up its body, chipping off and melting the ice held in the feathers. Slowly, as if testing them, the goose spread its wings as far as they would go, brought them together, accordion-like, and spread them again. With the goose out of danger, the swans resumed their eastward journey- in perfect formation. Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy, the goose swept into the sky. he followed them, flapping double time, until he caught up and joined the end of the line. The woman watched until they were out of sight, tears running down her cheeks.

Lord, help me reach out in healing love today to those who are different from me.

Repentance is turning from self to Christ; and when we receive Christ so that through faith He can live His life in us, good works will be manifest(TFMB 87).