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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Trees (12/05/05)
God’s Creation.

Our regular semestral retreat last year was held during summer and our group chose to hold it inside the woods near our seminary. It was one of the events where everyone was longing because this was the time where we can free ourselves, at least for a day, from the pressures of academic studies.

We started the retreat, in the morning, with a service inside the seminary chapel and our spiritual director read a passage from the Bible for us to reflect with. It was about “God’s Creation”.

And after the service, we slowly marched down to the woods bringing with us only a bottle of mineral water and a piece of bread for refreshment, whenever we need one, because fasting was encouraged to those who could endure not to eat during the retreat.

Inside the woods, we respectively chose our best spots for us to sit or even to lie down. I got my spot and I immediately settled in to start my contemplation about God’s Creation.

And then there was silence not even a word was spoken.

I only heard the leaves of the trees continuously singing a heavenly hymn, as the mild wind passed by, and every now and then, whenever the strong wind blew, I heard the crackling of some branches from the trees as if they were shouting their praises to the Almighty.

Then I heard a voice and it was coming from the young tree nearby as if it was talking to the old tree where I was sitting on the one of its larger roots comfortably.

“Why we were created as trees, sir? And who made us?” said the young tree as if it was so disturbed by our mere presence.

The old tree answered, “Well, my child, it is God who made us. He made us because He wanted us to praise Him continuously and forever on behalf of His prized creation – the humans.”

“Why we need to praise God for the humans, sir?’ the confused young tree asked.

“Do humans do not know how to praise God?” the young tree added.

“No, it is not that humans do not know how to praise God” the old tree immediately answered.

And it continued, “Humans are prized creation of God that is why they were given free will to do their things as they please and praise God whenever they wish.”

“And that is why, we were created by God on behalf of humans so that God must be praised continuously and forever specially coming from this sinful world.” the old tree articulated.

“But why humans cut us down?” asked by the confused young tree. It spoke as if it stooped towards me.

“Because humans are so ignorant to our very existence and so stubborn enough not to believe this revelation even that human (referring to me) who was chosen by God to hear this conversation. So, it is depressing to note that most of the time they cut us down out of their greed.” the old tree commented.

“But, my son, do not be worried. God’s wrath will be felt by the humans. We trees are also loved by God and when ever one of us will be cut down, out of human greed, God will be sad and got mad.” the old tree concluded.

And then the old tree asked, “Do you know what will happen if we trees are all gone because humans cut us down for their own selfish interest, young tree?”

The old tree, sensing the confusion from the young tree, answered its own question, “Floods, landslides, famine, hunger and eventually death will rule the earth. That is God’s wrath towards humans because we trees could no longer praise God - on behalf of those humans for that matter.”

And the young tree was silent…

…Then one of my classmates woke me up. I was so stunned.

“Thank you so much for the trees GOD!” I exclaimed with remorse.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Garnet Miller 
12/13/05
Interesting story! Be careful to proofread for grammatical errors.

If a character's dialogue is interrupted by a statement, it is not necessary to start a new paragraph especially when the character is speaking again after themselves.

Try something like this: "I don't understand," said the young tree. "Why do humans need us to praise for them?"

Instead of: "I don't understand," said the young tree.

"Why do humans need us to praise for them?" the young tree added.

The first example gives a better uninterrupted flow. I chose those phrases because I couldn't remember your exact words:)
Jan Ackerson
12/14/05
You have some run-on sentences to be corrected, but I'm a bit more puzzled by this piece, theologically. Trees were created to praise God on behalf of humans? We will feel His wrath for cutting down trees? I'm a bit unclear on these concepts.

You used the topic in a unique way, and gave us some things to think about. Thank you for sharing this story.
Karen Heslink
12/14/05
You might want to try setting your writing aside for a day or two before submitting. Then when you go back to it, read it out loud to yourself. I think then you will catch some of the errors before submission. I really like the converstion between the two trees. Sort of like the wisdom of the older generation versus the impetuous youth.
James Agan
12/14/05
Thank you guys for the comments.
Keep it going cause I really need that conctructive comments for my writing.
Fact is, I am really a "beginner" in a true sense of the word.
Thanks to all! GodBless!