This is better than all my plans.” Out in the forest, on the hillside, ail the trees clapped their hands because their brother, the boat, had known the fulfillment of his dreams. Months again went by and men came once more to the forest to cut down the third little tree, the one who wanted to stand on a hill and point to God. He was unhappy. “ I do not want to go into the valley," he said. “ Why couldn't they leave me alone?” But the woodcutters did not leave him alone. They tore away his branches; they cut into his bark, deeper, deeper, right into his very heart. They sawed him apart and put him together again, in the form of a crude cross. The little tree quivered through all of its being. “ This is terrible,” he whispered. “ They are go ing to hang someone on me. I never wanted this to happen to me. I only wanted to point to God. I did not want to take part in a crucifixion. This is awful!” But God, Who loves little trees, said, “ Wait, I will show you something.” And He did. For: One day out side Jerusalem, a great multitude gathered. In their midst was Jesus, and beside Him was the cross. “ And as they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And when they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him.” The cross shuddered beneath its weight of agony and shame. Then suddenly a miracle happened. “ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God.' ” The little tree that had become a cross heard, floating down from the heavenly places, the echo of a remembered promise: “ Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up, from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” The cross began to understand. “ This is wonder fu l,” he whispered. "I am part of a miracle. Not one tree on the hilltop has been able to point man to God. Only the cross of Calvary can do that.” All the trees on the hillside clapped their hands and thanked God because their brother, the cross, had known fu lfill ment. There are no wishes worth having outside of Jesus. He will make of the stable of our heart a manger for the King; He will fill our empty vessels with the cargo of His blessing; and if you take up the cross and follow Him, He will make of you one who will point others to God. KB THE KING’S BUSINESS
whispered, “ Wait, I will show you something.” And He did. For: “ There were in the same country shepherds abid ing in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not: for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shep herds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe, lying in a manger.” It was our own little manger. In the stillness of the night God had come down to lay His very own little Baby there. This Baby was the Son of God. The manger quivered with delight. "Oh, this is wonder fu l,” he whispered; "In all my dreams as a tree I never thought I'd hold a baby like this. Why, I am part of a miracle!” Out on the hillside, all the trees clapped their hands because their brother, the manger, had seen his wish come true. Years passed by, and again men came to the forest and cut down the second little tree. “ I wonder whether I shall be made into a great vessel now,” this one thought. “ I have waited so long. Now per haps I shall do the great things of which I have dreamed.” But the little tree did not do great things. He was made into a tiny fishing boat and fell into the hands of simple Galilean fisherman named Peter. The little boat was most unhappy. One day he stood by the shores of the Sea of Galilee and pondered, as Peter washed his nets. “ To think my life has come to this,” he said, “ Just a fishing boat! Peter is not even a great fisher man. He has toiled all night and has taken nothing. It would have been better to have remained in the forest.” But God, who loves little trees, said, “ Wait, I will show you something.” And He did. For out of the crowd came a Person called Jesus Who entered the little boat and taught the people. His words were of such wisdom and beauty and light that the multi tude listened with eagerness. He finished speaking and then told Peter to launch out into the deep and let down his nets again. And, lo, there were so many fish that the net broke! The little boat trembled not so much with the weight of the fish, as the weight of wonder in his heart. “ This is wonderful,” he whispered; “ In all my dreams I never thought to carry a cargo like this. Why, I am part of a miracle. 14
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