Trees have offered boundless hiding spots and shelter since the beginning of time. They have served as a fortress to playful children, lovers, and convicts alike.
Jesus addresses the misuse of their timber in Matthew 7 when He asks us, “ Why do you see the splinter that is in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye?” (v.4)
That’s a hard question to answer.
We might harbor our eye-timber for the same reason we run behind it during a game of hide and seek: it offers a source of protection. While lodged, we believe the massive log will keep onlookers from viewing the depths of our pain, weakness, insecurities or addictions; but that same log that offers us a hiding spot also obstructs our visual perception toward those around us. It generates a skewed and harsh image of our fellow sojourners. We might view a piece of their truth, but an accurate read of their life is impossible as long as the log remains intact.
Jesus rebukes, “You deceive yourself!” Take the log out of our eye so that you can see others as they really are. (Matthew 7:5 my paraphrase)
Do you ever wonder how you ended up with that log in your eye in the first place? You didn’t place it there. It didn’t drop in overnight. It developed over decades, through circumstances, choices, tragedies and victories. And you are not the only one to hide behind it. As humans, we harbor our own log. This timber doesn’t wither with age, but actually becomes well-rooted and stout unless we obey Jesus’ command to remove and examine it.
A horizontal cut through timber exposes a series of rings, representing the years of the life of a tree. Life can be pretty tough on a tree! Drought, excessive rain, fire, insect plagues, disease epidemics, injuries, and air pollution leave their mark on a tree’s annual growth rings.
An entire field of science, known as Dendrochronology, is devoted to the study and interpretation of tree ring growth. The data, used by archeologists, chemists, climate scientists, and historians, reveals the life history of a tree and allows these researchers to plot historical events and examine the environmental conditions of the past based on what the tree rings reveal.
The rings of our own log offer similar data, recording the history of our life: childhood memories of abuse or acceptance, rejection or celebrations, heartache or the thrill of romance, graduations, the wedding, our marriage, the birth of our children, parental challenges, abandonment, career success, joys, suffering, divorce…it’s all recorded…lodged…and impossible to circumvent.
What do we do with this information once we find the courage to examine this life-long acquaintance? Jesus offers his help! Serving as Chief Architect and Archeologist, He unearths His counter-narrative, written amidst the pain, the disappointment, the victories, successes and defeat. If we extend it, He will transform the log that served to cripple and hide our true self. The timber that distorted our view of others can become the wood from which He will design something meaningful. Our history when surrendered becomes His-Story. We will then have the power to offer joy instead of judgement, healing instead of hurt, celebration instead of comparison.
Action: Take some time today to create a plot-map of your log. Invite Jesus to expose the meaning behind every ring that represents the seasons you’ve navigated. Don’t skip over or feel shamed by certain data that’s recorded there. Once recorded, ask Jesus to create something beautiful from the entire log that was once a hiding place and a hindrance toward truly loving others.
Anchor of Hope: He was pierced because of our rebellions and crushed because of our crimes. He bore the punishment that made us whole; by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (CEB)
Love the visual of the’ rings’ in the ‘log’. The work is worth it!