There's a tree standing mute, in the field out back,

no telling how long it's stood. I look at it in wonder and amazement,

for the damage it's endured.

It's suffered many lightening strikes, with limbs broken and falling down;

the blows from Nature, merciless, yet it seems eternally earthbound.

It's a sycamore tree, like Zacheus climbed, the day when Jesus he found.

As he struggled to see Jesus, he knew, his life needed turning around.

This tree, the old sycamore, has seen many a violent storm,

it's trunk, decayed and splintered, limbs broken and deformed.

Across the landscape, it's sprawled, undaunted by violence and strife.

From the elements, it's been mauled, and still, it clings to life.

Every year, it sprouts new growth, and bursts into bud again,

in a never ending cycle, it defies death and pain,

it's leaves finally opening, so beautiful and green,

like Zacheus, after receiving Jesus, it comes to new life each spring.

Kind of like our Christian walk, through struggles and often shame,

sometimes we are battered and broken and have to start over again.

Though we face adversity, with our faith in God,

we stand tall, and endure like the sycamore tree,

for our strength is in the Lord.

No matter how many times we fall, or suffer through storms and strife,

we can always count on Him, Who gives us eternal life.

For Jesus is our High Tower, our Deliverer, our Hope.

He gives us strength to carry on, when we're at the end of our rope.

We keep plodding under a heavy load and He is always there.

We keep trotting down that long dusty road with no one to care.

When we see nothing but despair and can't see the forest for the trees,

When we aren't even aware, Jesus gives us the victory.