The expert’s assessment of the situation revealed that the roots of our majestic, shady escape had burrowed so deeply through the retaining wall that they had caused mild to severe damage. Although we were told that some sections of the wall boasted minor rifts while other sections had been completely separated, we chose to ignore the problem simply so that our trunked refuge could be spared.
On occasion, we had even spoken about the potential dangers of the collapsing concrete barricade, but we never spoke about addressing the problem. Why? Because doing so would mean the death of something we had all grown to love; thus, we chose to turn a blind eye.
Recently, another risk assessment of the property brought the discussion back to the table. The gravity of the report called for us to critically weigh the potential benefit of maintaining the tree against the likely losses to be suffered if the situation were allowed to persist. The assessor made it clear that the protruding roots had completely compromised the integrity of the retaining wall which, he said, could no longer offer the safeguard for which it had been created. Advising against the continued growth of the tree, the assessor recommended what we had all feared: our beloved tree would have to be cut down and the barricade reinforced.
The Conflict of the Heart
The decision to heed the assessor’s recommendations was later stalled by vehement protests and proposed alternatives, which protesters demanded require further examination and deliberation. Despite the onslaught of counter-proposals and amidst threats of non-violent protests—including threats to chain oneself to the tree—a panel of well-thinking men decided to ignore the uproar. They chose to heed the recommendation of the experts before the inevitable occurred.
With the directives given, workmen arrived. Positioning their saws at the nape of the tree’s branches, they effortlessly severed the flowering limbs. In what appeared to be the time it would take to snap one’s fingers, the once-illustrious tree had been conquered; it now stood barren and forlorn.
The Excavation
After clearing the debris generated by the exercise, the workmen attended to the next and most challenging phase of the process: the uprooting of the trunk. This proved to be a menacing task for the workmen, who soon abandoned their chainsaws for a backhoe to excavate the tree from its ominous position. Emasculated and tossed aside for disposal, the stump no longer posed a threat to the retaining wall. Plans are now being made to restore the wall to its proper functioning.
As I watched the process unfold, I was reminded of the process we must all undergo if we are to protect our souls (our spiritual property) from the compromising effects of sin, which burrows through the retaining wall of our spirit. Like the untrained protesters, we too have often sought to advocate against the need to rid ourselves of some sinful pleasure that we have grown to love.
I pray that our deliberations will not have eternal consequences. I pray that we, too, will surrender to the recommendation of the Expert and yield to the process of excavation.
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