While I was walking on an old wooded path from my childhood I came across a section that had suffered some damage from a recent storm.  Broken tree limbs were scattered along the trail; leaves and pine needles that had been cast to the ground by a mighty wind lay in chaos.  I came to a bend in the road and I beheld an ancient oak tree with a giant section torn from the massive trunk and lay lifeless upon the ravaged earth.  Often I had looked up at this tree as a symbol of strength and stability because of its enormous size.  But now it stood broken and twisted and half dead.

        As I stand looking up at what was left of this once mighty giant I begin to imagine the force of the storm required to topple such a monstrous tree.  Then I see this small stalk being driven back and forth by the light breeze blowing on this day.  I take a closer look at the small plant and wonder how it could withstand the storm that brought down the mighty oak.  And as I study my limber little buddy I take this photo; and then it occurs to me, the secret of his strength is in his flexibility.  When the storm raged he bent with the wind.  Adversity did not break him because he has learned the secret of true strength; gentleness, flexibility and acceptance. 

        The mighty oak tree had lost his ability to bend when the winds of adversity huffed and puffed and blew.  Today, which one do you identify with most; the stiff and rigid oak or the supple and agile stalk?  When things do not go your way how do you respond?  When faced with difficult people, do you become disagreeable?  When circumstanced conspire against you and things turn from bad to worse, do you become bitter?  When the thunder begins to rumble and you can see the lightning in the distance, the rain falls and the winds start blowing, how do you react?  Storms are a part of life; difficulties, adversity, lose, trouble and defeat threaten us every year.  Do you bend and accept the storms or can you hear your branches beginning to crack?

        Trials are simply medicines that the great physician uses to make us better and increase our strength.  Let us trust in his skill and thank him for his prescription.  The medicine may not taste good, but if we would stay flexible and trusting in our troubles, we shall find there is no situation so chaotic that He cannot from that situation create something that is exceedingly good.  Remember, happiness and flexibility are a choice; choose to bend when the wind blows.

Something to think about:

• Tough times never last, but tough people do.  Virtue flourishes in misfortune.

• “Why does God bring thunderclouds and disasters when we want green pastures and still waters?” Bit by bit we find, behind the clouds, the Father’s feet; behind the lightning, an abiding day that has no night; behind the thunder a still, small voice that comforts with a comfort that is unspeakable.

• Defeat should never be a source of discouragement but rather a fresh stimulus.

• It is defeat that turns bone to flint, and gristle to muscle, and makes men invincible.  Do not then be afraid of defeat. You are never so near to victory as when defeated in a good cause

• What is defeat? Nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.

• The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

• Don’t be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with, the wind.

Thankful for those who bend
Rickey Moore
To see Moore photos of my flexible friends visit www.rlmoore.com