Popinjay: Alive

This week’s Popinjay theme is “Alive.” I took a bit of a different approach and at first glance, my photo “entry” looks quite the OPPOSITE of “alive”:

And of course, I took a lot of pictures and since I’m indecisive, I also have a second shot of the same tree:

I love the second one because the colors are amazing, and it was straight out of the camera that way, with my Scenery setting – no photoshopping! But the first one with the gnarled branches at that angle better demonstrates my point. Which I’m sure, you’d love for me to get around to explaining??

Alive

The property we live on is covered in cedar trees. No oak. No maple. No poplar or ash or elm. It has it’s advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that we are always surrounded by lots of green, even in the dead of winter. Our evergreen blanket.

But there is one tree that no longer bears its green – we call it the white tree. For years it has stood across our driveway, a ghost of a tree against the dark green background behind it. This tree serves as a reminder that even “ever”green trees don’t stay green forever.

It reminds me of Isaiah 40:8 (the first scripture verse I ever memorized, as it was written on the cover page of my first bible):

The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our Lord stands forever.

Eventually, every single one of those trees will die.

Every. Single. One.

But the Word will last forever.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:24-26

Popinjay is a concept photo challenge from Michelle.

You can see this full photo set on Flickr.