Pastor Seth Hedman, Garwin Valley Community Church.

There once was a small village next to a river. The river was the town’s life, from which they drew their water, irrigated their crops, washed their clothes, and bathed their children. There was built a stone bridge over the river, connecting the village to the outside world. Over the bridge they welcomed visitors and traders, many of which decided to make the pleasant village their home. Over time, however, the river began to dry up. Fearing the worst, parents began to send their kids over the bridge to the city for work. The bridge became a means of escape. Soon, the river ran completely dry. Without the next generation to work, the bridge itself fell into disrepair. The town shrank and grayed and despair took root.

The few children who remained took to playing in the sand and dirt of the dry river bed and resting under the cool shade of the bridge on summer days. One day, a little boy found a great and beautiful seed in the woods. Being a wise boy, he knew that seeds needed to be planted, which he did directly under the bridge. Over time, the seed grew and grew into a sapling, soaking in the cool morning sunlight from the east and the warm red light from the west. When the branches hit the underside of the old bridge, the tree turned up on either side, growing stronger and thicker as its roots reached deeper into the ground. As the bridge fell into further disrepair, the tree helped to support it. As children and visitors traveled over the bridge, they enjoyed the shade and fruit of the tree reaching up overhead. The bridge lasted much longer and was much more pleasant with the tree supporting it. But still the river ran dry, visitors no longer stayed, and children moved to the city.

Finally, the fateful day came. The bridge’s neglect was too much even for the tree and overnight it fell with a great crash. The people of the village wondered at the tragedy. What would they do now? How would their children go to the city? How would the traders sell them goods? For many, the despair was too much, and they left for good. Yet, for those who stayed, a curious change took place. The children of the town didn’t seem to notice or miss the bridge, for the tree remained strong and fruitful. They still rested under its shade and enjoyed its fruit. In fact, now their laughter and joy increased as they climbed and played on the tree’s branches. The people of the town realized anew how beautiful and strong the tree was and wondered at its roots. Where did this life and longevity come from in a dry river bed? The men of the town got their tools and began to dig. The children gazed in curiosity as the piles of dirt grew higher and soon, their theory was proven correct: water. All along, underneath the dry river bed was all of the freshwater the town would ever need. Using the stones from the bridge, the men built a well.

Now the water and life of the town flowed freely again. All along the old river bed they planted a great and wonderful garden, full of sweet smelling flowers and delicious fruits. Many of the children who had moved to the city were overjoyed to return to the village and raise their own children. Babies were born. New families moved to town. New homes were built. Old men heard the sound of laughter in their streets again. No longer would parents send their children away over the bridge, but they would give them away in marriage and build houses for them on their own land. The village was made new again. At the center of the life of the town was the tree and the well, and the people enjoyed their fruit and water for the rest of their days. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.