Little Fig Tree

 

I’m a little fig tree

Tall and lean

Long are my branches

Leaves of green

 

I stand alone, a single young tree and all I see are rows and rows of vines all around me, as far as I can see.  I’m not really sure why I’m different than them, but I do know that I am.  I don’t look like them. I’m tall and spindly, they are long and twisty.  I don’t have fruit like them, and even my leaves are different.  And the owner who comes around frequently doesn’t treat me like them.  I know I am different, but I still want to be useful, to do something meaningful, something other than just standing here all day.  I always thought trees like me were planted somewhere very different than here.  Somewhere with warm sunny days, sheltered from the high winds and storms, and near a wall or building that would keep me warm on the cool nights.  But here I am standing alone in the middle of the vineyard, trying my best to grow strong, so that I can produce those sweet figs that my ancestors did. 

 

I’m a little fig tree

Craving the light

Hungry are my roots

And thirsty through the night.

 

The winter has been dark and dreary, little sunlight to be had.  It’s been extremely hard to grow without sunlight these past months. And even though the season’s turning the nights are still so cold.  Without the sunlight I do not have energy to grow.  I cannot extend my roots deep into the soil to find the nutrients that I so hunger for.  The soil here is so sandy and full of rocks, it’s hard to find water and my thirst grows each day. 

I’m a little fig tree

All alone

Keeping to myself

So others do not groan.

 

My roots can only go down, for if I reach too far to the sides, the roots of the vines tell me to get back into my own space, telling me that I do not belong here.  The same happens with my branches, I cannot grow out, only up, because they yell, “move over and get back in your own space, you’re taking up my sunlight.  You don’t belong over here.”

 

The vineyard workers spend the hot days in the sunshine picking the grapes, pruning the vines, and tending the roots.  None of them take notice of me.  Yes, they lean against my trunk when they are tired.  They tear off my branches when they need my leaves to fan them in the heat.  But no one notices the wilt around the edges of my leaves from lack of water or the brittleness of my bark from lack of nutrients.  They don’t offer me any tenderness, care, or encouragement.  They just take what they need from me and move on without even really seeing me. 

 

When the owner visits, he smiles at the vines, gently inspects what they have produced, and praises them for the glorious fruit.  At the end of the rows, he comes to me, shaking his head, a frown on his face.  I have no fruit to offer for am only 3 and life has been hard to find all I need.  Still his expectations are that I should bear fruit.  No kind words for me, no encouragement either.  This is not the first time I have disappointed him.  But this time, the fear sets in as I hear him exclaim, “cut it down” while pointing at me. 

 

I’m a little fig tree

Trying my best

Who can help me

Get out of this mess?

 

The gardener steps forward, gently lays his hand on my bark, begging the owner to give me a chance.  He’s  offering to care for me, to get me more nourishment and the things that I need.  Hope wells within me.  Someone cares.  Someone has finally noticed how hard it is for me to grow here.  Now I have a friend, a protector, an advocate.  I will do my best to receive what he offers, use it to grow stronger so I can produce the fruit the master is waiting for.  I can do this; I just need a little help! 

 

I’m a little fig tree

Loved by God

I have an advocate

Hopeful that I can beat these odds.

 

As requested by several of you, a reprint of my sermon from the Third Sunday in Lent, March 23, 2025, based on the Gospel of Luke the 13th chapter, verses 1-9.  This reflection reminds us to be kind, embrace diversity, and to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. 

May the Risen Christ continue to show up in your lives, surprising you, and transforming you to live out this new life we’ve been granted through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Blessings,

Pastor Karla

 

 

 

                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings,

 Pastor Karla