In this past Sunday’s first reading, Elijah comes to a broom tree (image below) and sits down beneath
it. He’s at the end of his rope. He’s a prophet, but nobody’s listening – even
after he demonstrates that God is working through him when he brings rain to
Mount Carmel.
Now, in the desert, it’s not like Elijah has much of a choice. The whole point of a desert is that it
generally lacks the kind of shade-bearing vegetation we see, say, in Muir
Woods. And in fact, a broom tree isn’t
really a tree but a bush, which is to say that it doesn’t give a whole lot of
shade. Not much to offer, is it? Yet the broom tree itself is an important
lesson to Elijah. It survives on
little. When the rains do come (which is
seldom), the broom tree is brought to life.
Thereafter, it has staying power and determination, and fights nature
trying to stay alive when everything is so dry.
It is hardy and tenacious – more determined than Elijah himself to stay
alive. And it is just enough. Elijah rests in its shade, eats, and is strengthened for his journey of forty days
and forty nights.
Where do you find strength for the journey?
Video credit (Song by Michael John Poirier)
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