Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell Chestnut Trees While wandering along the ridge of a Massachusetts mountain this afternoon we came upon a chestnut tree. A hundred years ago that would not have been worth a glance since the mountains once were covered with chestnut trees. But blight has destroyed them. They still grow but at about seven feet or so they die. This one was note worthy because it was over ten feet tall but upon careful observation we could see the beginnings of approaching death. It is so much like us. It will never reach its full potential and neither do we, at least in this life. That chestnut should reach high into the sky. It should spread out great limbs. It should drop its fruit for a host of forest animals. But it will not be so. Thus it is with you and me. We should intellectually and physically grow strong that we could forever be a source of blessing to ourselves and all around us. But too soon we fade. We are blighted chestnut trees. However that is now. Jesus offers us a new beginning. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15 that this corruptible body and mind will put on incorruption. There is a cure for our decline. We shall be made whole and strong with an endless future for all our dreams to be fulfilled. Unlike our present experience we will go from triumph to triumph with each opening up more doors and more possibilities. Let's not be satisfied with being a chestnut tree. Let's take the promised gift. It is a gift. Gifts are free. How utterly foolish we would be to pass this by. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is roger.bothwell@verizon.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives