In an unfortunate run-in with heavy construction equipment, a 100-year-old post oak on Abbey property sustained significant damage (pictured). Post oaks, along with blackjack oaks, cedar elms and pines, populate the Abbey property and much of this area—the Cross Timbers ecoregion running from southeastern Kansas through Oklahoma to central Texas.
Despite its severe injury, that old post oak is showing signs of resilience. In the year since it was damaged, it has slowly grown wound wood or callus (the lighter colored wood around the edges) to seal off the injury and protect it from insects and disease. This act of restoration requires considerable time and energy.
In this last year as I’ve been recovering from triple-negative breast cancer, I too have found that restoration takes considerable time and energy. In just over two years, I underwent a grueling chemo regimen and an exhausting five surgeries. I’ve been surprised by how much damage was done, how much rest I have needed, and how much time and energy it has taken to recover. At one point I wrote, “I have so little to give right now because I’m giving so much to healing. Lord, refill, restore, renew me.”
As a species post oaks have been known to survive wildfires, and perhaps, it seems, head-on collisions with Bobcat loaders packing thousands of pounds. That old tree may look beat up, and it is, but there are visible signs of new life. This week an arborist told me, “It will be okay.”
And so, will I. Like that tree, I will forever bear the scars of breast cancer—both visible and invisible. There has been real grief and loss, but I’m recovering. I’m more than okay, I’m thriving in Jesus. He is making me new.
And if you need time with Jesus for rest and renewal, I hope you’ll join me at the Abbey for the for our next Guided Day Retreat. See the Retreat page for details and/or the Register page to register. If you would like to support our ministry of soul care, you can donate through the Give page.