NAKED DEFIANCE! 6/29/14

NOT LONG after we moved to Oregon, we discovered several roadside picnic areas along the Rogue River. In these spots the river was narrow and curvy, cascading downwards towards the estuaries that eventually would flow into the Pacific Ocean. Although there were several of these picnic areas, we had our favorite. It had only a few tables and place to park your vehicle. That part of the wayside wasn’t spectacular, but getting beyond the brush and the trees there was the river and ‘Naked Defiance!’

NAKED DEFIANCE defied the bend in the river! It stood tall, stately, and unbending as it overlooked the rushing waters. With years of penetrating watchfulness, on stormy days, when the rains would come, and the river would rise, the water would submerge the lower half of this old tree, until eventually it washed all the dirt away and left the rugged roots exposed. This massive tree eventually became vulnerable and yet immoveable.

THIS TREE, needless to say, was our main attraction! Oh it was fun watching the water racing down and out of sight around the bend; listening to the birds and wishing we could get in the water. However, it was far too swift! Through the years the water had carved out a small beach and we would lay on our blanket and watch the kids playing close to the shore. No wading, nor getting too far out, so as to get caught in the swift undercurrents. We would be all by ourselves, being one with nature! Asking; "Was this tree part of God’s initial creation?

FOR YEARS I wanted Jim to paint me a picture of Naked Defiance, as it stood there tall and stately. It fascinated me to see so much of it exposed to the elements and wondered why it just didn’t topple over. The picture of this tree is in our memory, the photo’s are hidden in albums.

YEARS went by and one day we returned to revisit our old friend by the river. A restoration project had been underway while we were just living our lives! The ground had been reinforced and rebuilt up around the rugged roots of that stately old tree. The beach was gone and the water was rapidly moving along, paying no attention, that the curve in the bend of the river had been restored to it’s natural state. You couldn’t just walk out to the water edge anymore, but we stood on a small knoll, standing under the outstretched branches of this massive tree overlooking the rushing waters.

I KNOW many of you have seen such trees or some quite similar, as you have traveled our grand country. I know that you have stories to tell of your experiences, wondering about God’s creation. I know we all, always stand amazed as we see the scriptures come to life, many times over.

"BLESSED is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out it’s roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for it’s leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 We still call him ‘Naked Defiance’ even though, today, we probably should call him ‘God’s Masterpiece!’ There he stands fully dressed, in all his grandeur. Fully strengthened by the soil that surrounds him and the waters that had been giving him nourishment since the beginning.

I CALL a stretch of Hwy 62 in Southern Oregon, just past Prospect; "The Cathedral of Trees!" Massive, defiant and full of majesty! Tree’s that stretch towards and fill the sky with its branches. Oh to be like these huge trees covering the expanse above. Oh to be like Naked Defiance standing by the water, being strong and faithful with branches held out towards the sun, soaking in all of God’s goodness! We too are God’s creation! Do we attract the attention that Naked Defiance did? Can a restoration movement begin in us?          By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/28/14