The Carpenter & The Tree

I was nothing more than a simple grateful tree
I grew and I was glad for the sun that shone on me
My seed was put to ground when Daniel faced the fire
To throw my shade for all was the sum of my desire

In all my years of standing I saw so many things
I dug my roots in deeper and added to my rings
Alexander ruled the world and Nehemiah built the walls
And as I spread my branches I saw God's people fall

Man went about his business but the earth was told to wait
No knowledge did they have of their destiny and fate
God's children staggered on through rain and hail and storm
When finally in Bethlehem a carpenter was born

This was greatest moment that the world had ever felt
For death was on the run the mortal blow was dealt
Most every man alive simply let it pass him by
Us trees we knew the truth because the earth let out a sigh

We felt the tremor of each step He placed upon the ground
How we envied all the souls who would by Him be found
The joy that glowed from in Him was better than the sun
The devil quivered in his pit for God to man had come

And then one day when I had grown another thirty rings
I was packed with birds who all began to sing
Twelve men and God approached me and lay within my shade
And from the mortals spread about consciousness did fade

The carpenter approached me with sadness on his face
In a flash I saw us both in another, evil, place
He threw His arms around me His breath I then could feel
My lasting sorrow and regret was that I could not kneel

I saw His ruined body I saw the blessed scars
The love I felt within Him was the force that fed the stars
And lo' a single tear slid down from His eye
Then I knew immortal God had come to earth to die



The Lord then spoke �"

I have a task to give you a job that you must do
You shall be my death bed so all things may be new
Your fall is fast approaching and your standing time is done
This task We must complete so man to God may come

When the stripes that heal have been laid upon my back
Each other We shall carry through the grim attack
When man has dined upon my flesh and Satan's belly's full
Together will they nail us at the place they call the skull

A symbol shall ye be of that which love will dare
Those who see the death of me will know that their God cares
Though shall bear me up as the forfeit for their souls
A sacrifice of blood I'll be so heaven may be whole

But only half story will be in thy deathly form
To know the truth and witness the coming of the dawn
For man to lift his soul up from his hellish doom
He must accept and give thanks for the empty tomb

Through all his pain, fear and loss I shall take his part
A vision of my face shall I place within his heart
In all the years to come I shall never leave his side
Salvation, healing, love be his whom in me abides

And then the Lord He left me and went upon His way
My branches reached out to Him as I began to sway
A breeze blew gently through me and roused the jealous birds
Never would I feel such love expressed in human words

In three more rings the soldiers came and slew me where I stood
Two big pieces did they keep agreeing they were good
The rest of me they burned no care about my loss
From those two limbs they fashioned a simple wooden cross