God's Tree

Messages come in a thousand different ways. Old fashioned letters, e-mail, telephone and just simple talking are the most used ways but there is one way that is ignored or, if it is spoken of, ridiculed and that is getting messages in dreams. There are stories in the bible about God or his angels appearing in a dream but other than the bible no one believes the stories except for a young man from California named Edward Ioanes.

Edward had spent so many weekend and many weeks camping in the forests and mountains throughout California. Because of that he had learned a love and respect for the forests and all of the plants and animals that lived there. He even went to the extent of turning in anyone and everyone who littered or in any way intentionally hurt what he valued the most and that love lasted him throughout his life.

Edward was about 12 years old the first time the dream appeared to him. The meaning wasn’t clear, in fact in later years he said it was rather cryptic, although the images were sharp he couldn’t make out what they meant. There was a tree, a door in the side of the tree and a white-robed figured who stood just inside the door.

Throughout the years Edward had the dream over and over again up through his 33rd year. More than once he had gone out in the forests, usually spending weeks at a time, scouring and searching for a single tree among millions that had a door placed in the side. After years of searching, and after going through two wives and three kids, he was on the verge of giving up. That dream had haunted him, tore his life apart and still avoided his grasp.

The last night Edward went to bed sometime around 3:00 am. It was not that he wasn’t tired…he was. It was just that he did not want to fall to sleep and have that dream another time. However, after having a hard day He was both physically and emotionally exhausted so as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out and making his way back to Dreamland.

“Edward, you have come again,” an old man said to him. “It is time for you to know more.”

“What,” Edward asked.

“You are the age when the Christ was killed for mankind’s sins,” the man said with a smile. “It is time for you to know more.”

Although it was a dream and Edward tried but he could not wake up from his slumber. “What is it I am supposed to learn,” Edward asked.

“Travel to the redwood forests of the north. Enter the forest all that you have not known will be revealed to you,” the old man replied. “That is the word of God and as such it must occur. Now sleep. You have a long time to travel.” With that Edward turned over and fell back in a deep sleep and he didn’t see that dream again but everything he was told was remembered.

Edward woke up around 6:00 am and, although he had only slept for a few hours, he was completely rested and ready for the day. He went into the kitchen, had a small breakfast, dressed in rugged clothes other than the suit he was expected to wear. He got into his car and started driving but he didn’t notice that he was not headed toward his office. He was headed north on a seven hour drive to finally reach the Sequoia National Park in upstate California. Still in a daze Edward got out of the car and started walking into the forest.

He quickly came to his senses and looked around. “What am I doing here,” he asked. Then his mind went back to the early morning hours and remembered what he was told. He looked around as if he was confused as to where to go or what to do. Then remembered those words he was told, “Enter the forest all that you have not known will be revealed to you.” He looked again and finally saw a sign that read “God’s Lookout.” He looked at it again and he decided that path might be the best one to start with so he started walk down the pine lined trail.

The sun was nearly down by the time he had walked two miles. It casted the trees, flora n and the air in a beautiful amber color that would have been romantic if he was not on a mission and if he had a girl with him but his thought turned away from romance and back to the mission. The sun was fading quickly and he needed to find that tree…if it existed.

Another five miles and the sun was completely down. The darkness was complete and it was blacker that the darkest piece of ebony. There on the trail was a split in the path and standing in the left path was a man dressed in a plaid shirt, blue jeans and thick work boots that looked like the kind he had seen on TV when he was watching those bad lumberjack shows.

“You are looking for something young man,” the lumberjack asked. Edward relayed the story to the lumberjack making sure to emphasize every detail of the dreams. “Young man, there is a place a mile up the right path. Rest there until morning and I am sure that you will complete your quest.” He shook hands with Edward, leaving him at the split in the trail as he walked up the left trail.

Edward did as he was told, walking on the right path for another twenty minutes until he found a clearing. It was there he laid down on a bed of ferns and fell asleep, despite the bugs, the cold and the sounds of nocturnal animals as they scampered though the undergrowth.

The sun woke Edward up sometime around 5:00 am. He was still tired but he was sure of himself enough to see his surroundings.  He looked around and there it was…no more than ten feet from where he was sleeping. It was a large redwood, nearly fifteen across and in the thick bark was a Norwood pine door with silver trim and a handle of the purest gold. The windows were sheets of amber without any imperfections. It was the most beautiful door that Edward had ever seen. As the dream had told him there was a man in a white robe standing by the door looking at him.

“Edward Ioanes, I see that you have followed the dream and finished your quest,” the man said as he opened the massive door. “However, you do have one more thing to do,” he added as he escorted Edward though the door and up to a set of stairs that led into the truck of the tree. “Climb these stairs and you shall be finished.”

By now Edward was too interested in what was happening to question anything so he started the long climb into the canopy of the tree. It took him roughly an hour to climb the 125 feet to the top of the tree. When he hit the last step he could see an open air patio, silver goblets and the lumberjack he had met the night before.

“What’s going on,” Edward asked.

“Edward, I have followed you since you first came to the forest,” the lumberjack said. “I have seen how you loved the forest and all who live here.”

“Yes, I do love the forests,” Edward said. “May I ask a question,” he asked as he backed up just a little. The lumberjack said that he would happily answer any question. Edward already had an idea but he wanted to make sure. “Who are you,” he asked.

“You know in your heart and soul who I am Edward. I am eternal being of peace and love. I am the one known by many names,” he said with a smile. As soon as the lumberjack answered Edward fell to his knees. Looking up he asked the lumberjack why he was dressed the way he was. “I take many forms Edward. I look like this because it would allow Me to see what people in My people are truly like. A man with a long beard and white cloak would never be able to walk among man. Do you understand?”

Edward stood and asked, “Why am I here? Why did you send for me?”

The lumberjack looked at him and placed his hand on Edward’s shoulder. “Edward, you have served me well and now it is time for you to rest. I wanted you to see the beauty that you have helped create.” He waved his hand and the branches spread wide giving Edward a view of over a million acres of majestic redwoods glistening in the morning sun. “Without you these trees, this forest would not exist.”

“Thank you,” Edward said shyly yet proudly.

“Edward, you must now go to another forest, an eternal forest in My paradise. It will be yours until well beyond the end of time,” the lumberjack said.

‘Thank you again,” Edward said soul left his body and floated into the heavens.

Below, a group of hikers approached the tree but the door and the man in the white robe were gone. Instead they found a body laying broken at the foot of the tree. Identification said that it was the body of Edward Ioanes. The National Park Service had heard of Edward and the admired the work he did to preserve the forests so they placed a plaque on the tree in honor of Edward so that everyone would know that there was good man who died there and they would think and, in their own way continue his work and the forests would last well beyond the end of time..