Some words for you, and a picture, for you who are barely hanging on to hope.

Even a tree has more hope! If it is cut down, it will sprout again and grow new branches. Though its roots have grown old in the earth and its stump decays, at the scent of water it will bud and sprout again like a new seedling.

Job 14:7-9

I live near Washington DC. Spring equals the blooms on our cherry trees. This is one of my hundreds of pictures having now 36 springs living near Washington DC.

I’ve always called the experience of walking under the cherry blossoms mystical. Especially at night. There is a wonder about getting under trees. This quadruples when you are under cherry blossoms.

Our DC cherry blossom trees are old, gifted to us from Japan in 1912. The old beauty in this picture is old and still blooming. Not like the others but aren’t you inspired by the tenacity?

Does this tree give you hope?

Does your faith feel as gnarled and rough and hardened as this tree trunk?

Does your crown of beauty feel lopped off by the unfair thing in life?

And yet you find a few sprigs of hope growing inside of you?

I’m hoping this article and this picture of this tree is helping you identify that sprig of hope you now feel. It is amazing how contagious hope is.

It is amazing how much our broken soul clings to the smallest of hope.

From the unfairness in Job’s life (Job 1-2), Job makes this observation. Hope will bud and sprout again.

Notice that this hope comes from the “scent” of water. That’s all it takes. Not with the drenching of water or with the flooding of nutrients. It takes just a little bit.

I’ve written a Bible study about your trust issues with God. In this Bible study I ask you to begin it with a 51% trust in God. I’m asking you to begin it with just a smidge over halfway, or with just the scent of water. Let’s see where an honest conversation with lots of Bible can lead to.

p.s. Unfortunately this tree, affectionately known and appreciated as “Stumpy” has been cut down. Major work to the Tidal Basin has led to the removal of 200 trees. Stumpy was one of the trees which will not be relocated because arborists didn’t believe he would survive transplanting. But alas, Stumpy has been turned into a mascot. Is this a good or bad honor?

Read this ode to Stumpy and see some beautiful pictures of his (or her) last days.