The Tree Parable

We stood in a large field just outside the Old City wall surrounded by ancient pine trees, some dating back to 150 years.  The professor asked us what we see in the field.  Trees, buildings, a view of the city below, the ground under our feet, blue sky, it all seemed so simple and obvious.  He pointed out the individuality of the trees and how their canopies touch each other here and there providing shade and gave us a bit of a history on these ancient pines which have stood for more than a century in this very spot. Then he asked what do we not see and proceeded to demonstrate the complexity of that which is not so obvious to us.  You see, we as Westerners often look at the problems that exist between the different groups here in Jerusalem and say ‘why can’t they just get along?’, ‘why can’t the different religious groups and ethnic groups just divvy and share the land & holy places and stop squabbling over who has more right to control, and who was first or who is more important?’  Well, as we learned from the trees, the roots though not visible to the eye are deeply entangled with one another.  Growing together for over a century, any attempt to pull a tree out by its roots would be next to impossible and likely cause severe damage to the other trees.  In the same way the culture, religions and politics of the people of Jerusalem are entangled, and intertwined in a complex yet interdependent way over centuries of existence in the Holy Land.  Ethnic diversity and ethnic tension are both present. To assume solutions based on a view of the surface is both unrealistic and ignorant.  The moral of the story, it is better to understand a tree by its roots. Our learning so far, has been rich and eye-opening. 

We have been exploring the physical landscape both in and around Jerusalem through Steve’s Physical Settings of the Bible course (I get to tag along on field trips) with a view to understanding this land, its people and the spiritual and political history that is so often the center of controversy and unrest.  There is so much more to learn and as you can imagine, a lot of personal challenge and growth taking place in our own hearts.  I've come to realize that one cannot come here and leave unchanged.  This land and its people have a way of getting under your skin and messing with everything you thought you had settled in your mind. So much for that.

These ancient olive trees still live today.  The roots of these trees live on for centuries.  What is above the surface seemingly dies, but the life of the tree still brings forth new shoots.  There are claims some of  these original trees date back as far as the time of Jesus.  Oh the stories they could tell.