Cypress

 

As I walked through the beautiful park, I was struck by the silhouettes of the Cypress knees that line the pond. No one is certain what purpose these signature structures serve for the trees, but they are hauntingly beautiful. With the play of light and shadow this morning, these knees looked to me like a crowd of tiny people gathered at the pond’s edge.

Anytime I see a Cypress tree, my mind turns to the biblical descriptions of the Temple in Jerusalem. The massive stones, the soaring roof, the courtyard, the elaborate furnishings - all of these are fascinating and impressive. But since I was a boy, what has captured my attention is the use of timbers in the construction. How beautiful must that woodwork have been to befit the house of God!

“The glory of Lebanon will come to you—its pine, fir, and cypress together—to beautify the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify My dwelling place.”

This morning it appeared to me that these Cypress trees were still creating a Temple for the worship of God. The Sanctuary was filled with light and life. Birds were singing and squirrels were scurrying about. People walked in the beauty of the place, and God seemed close. It was truly a gift to be in this sacred place called the world. Perhaps I was not the only one whom the Cypress called to think of God’s presence this morning. Perhaps the knees are the tree’s way of praising the Creator.

Peace.