O Christmas Tree

A few days ago , an evergreen tree was chopped down from the grounds of a local church.  The trees in the church yard had been planted nearly 30 years ago and tended faithfully by one of the members of the congregation. It was quite an upsetting time for the church as a whole to grasp the fact that such a deed had been committed by someone in the community.

Many people initially exhibited anger, dismay, and disgust at the total seemingly lack of respect shown to the church and its members. " How could someone do such a thing? "  "Thievery" "Report them to the police".   

Others responded on a different note, "We must forgive." "Find out who they are and tell them we forgive them."  "It is only a tree--forget about it."

The controversy went back and forth with thoughts of WW JD? along with suggestions of letters of forgiveness being sent to the Editor of the local newspaper.  Such ideas were challenged by thoughts of building a fence perhaps around the church yard to keep people out or perhaps installing a video camera for security.  

It is not certain what the good members of this Christian church will choose to do in response to this seemingly travesty  of fairness in this Season of  Goodness and Light.

Now I am not well schooled in theology or bible studies, nor do I attend any one denomination of 
any Christian church on a regular basis, however,
I will venture forth in describing my opinion on what an appropriate response that this church might take.

1.  It is JUST a tree.
2.  There must have been some reason why the culprit decided that THAT tree was the one to take. Perhaps it was shaped and full. Perhaps the church grounds were the only place where they thought they could take a tree without getting caught.
3. No, it doesn't seem fair that someone who has worked over thirty years have something like that stolen from them in a wink of an eye. Gone forever.

4. I think we should ask why would anyone think it would be so necessary to have a tree that they would go out and STEAL one..even one from the church.

5.  I think that perhaps the problem lies not in the fact that a tree left unguarded has been taken, but 
somehow the true message of Christmas has not only been lost on the person(s) who have done the stealing, but more importantly and even more tragically the people who purport to know what Christmas is all about have seemingly lost track (at least for the moment) of the Message that Christmas should convey.

   
A  beloved tree has been stolen
From the church grounds.
Taken  home to celebrate 
The birth of a Savior.
To  decorate and place gifts underneath,
To show  love to one another.

Have we forgotten how
He showed us His Love 
By placing His  Gift to us
On a tree  so that
We  could also be forgiven,
and brought Home?