Sharing our Treasures

     

Standing on the Tunnel Tree in Balch Park, CA (photo by Al Lowery)

 This summer, Al and I made two trips to see the Giant Sequoias. One of the trips was to Balch Park with Al’s daughter, Shanda, her husband and their four children. They flew out from Michigan at the end of August and spent several days with us in Springville. We thought it would be fun to spend an afternoon in the mountains so that they could see the big trees and maybe let Kevin, our twelve-year old grandson, fish a little too. 

      

After eating lunch at one of the picnic tables near the entrance to the Balch Park campground, we walked through the Tunnel Tree,  a fallen giant which has easy access near the top end of the tree and an opening at the root end, so that sunlight can filter in. Our grandkids really enjoyed that “hands-on” experience, especially the little boys (ages 4 and 2) who ran from one end to the other and then wanted to do it over and over again.

     

 By climbing on a platform to stand on the top of the trunk and then standing inside of the tree and reaching up to touch the “ceiling,” we were able to get a good idea of its enormous size.

     

 Afterwards, we crossed the road to hike around the small lake and took family pictures in front of another Giant Sequoia. It was a great day, one filled with awe and wonder at the magnificence of the big trees.

    

 A few weeks later, we took Highway 190 eastward to Camp Nelson with our friends, the Paynes, from Lancaster, California. Starting at the Belknap campground, we walked along the trail towards Quaking Aspen. It wasn’t long before we began seeing the rounded tops and reddish bark of the redwoods mixed in with the tall pines and cedars. The same feeling of awe returned.

      

 I never get tired of seeing these “National Treasures” and of sharing them with others. There is a sense of longevity, serenity and strength about them, even though occasionally a tree might topple over. The Tunnel Tree bears silent witness to the fact that they are vulnerable to wind, water and fire. But many of the trees in the Belknap Grove and in Balch Park are over one thousand years old; some of them may have even been living at the time of Christ’s birth. Standing alongside, or inside, one of the majestic giants makes me feel safe and protected.

     

 In Psalms 62-65, King David used similar words to describe the greatness of God: our rock, salvation, fortress, refuge, strong and loving; our Savior, our hope and our help. What a joy it is to be able to share the good news with others about our God who loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins in order that we might live with Him forever.  

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:7-8 NIV

(Published in the Porterville Recorder 9-7-13)