Sunday 21 September 2008

Buckley Elm! She was a beauty!

She was a beauty! she was the National champion American Elm tree. The picture was taken in the year 2000. the trunk was 23' in circumference and her canopy was 112' x 112' - a huge tree, She was thought to be the largest American Elm tree in the world.

Last Thursday I drove by the old tree and was shocked. I had not noticed before but she is gone. She has been destroyed by Dutch Elm Disease (DED) at the ripe old age of over 300 years. Her old trunk is still partially there - but is of no value. The picture here shows her already impacted by DED, her foilage is minimal.

As a child and youth I use to see her often, I lived not too far from her and rode horseback within eyesight of this queen of elms. Now - gone. So sad! As strong as she was and and as majestic as she was standing there in all her glory - disease destroyed this queen. She was known as the "Buckley Elm" and a search on the internet will bring up photos and history. Gone also is my youth and now my struggle to keep my existence on earth begins as well.

Some of us will be fortunate enough to leave a mark in history, but how will we go out? We need to fight the disease of sin and never allow it to take us or our loved ones out. My life and my choices impact my loved ones - God forbid that I let sin in my life be as destructive as DED.
The Buckley Elm looked like it would last forever - however it is now gone. I hope today that I work just a little harder to makes sure my legacy lives on and that I stay Christ focused.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry about the tree Papa :( but I appreciate the analogy and was reminded of Job when I read it. God will never allow the enemy to take the lives [figuratively speaking, in the context of sin] of those He has chosen. We will be tempted, we will sin, we will fall short, but God will never allow us to go to a place where we can't repent and return. That is the beauty of His salvation. Those He chose from the foundation of time are His forever. That truth gives me the strength to get up every time I fall and to run to Him for forgiveness, grace, and protection.

Love you Papa.

Carol said...

Man, you are good! You can take things out of life and nature and turn them into a parable with a moral....just like your Master! Keep up the good work, you are obviously touching many lives!

Indian Lake Papa said...

GCH - The story of the tree is sad - but as God's child we can chose to spend eternity with him and leave a wonderful legacy here. Love you too !!

Carol - thanks for the encouragement. Hope your weekend was good. Missd you at the dining hall Sat. PM - good crowd - I think 28.

rk said...

Papa,

So so so sorry about the tree. I love that you love God's artistry.

Like your life, that tree marked a legacy on other's lifes. You are a gardener of souls, representing Christ and His love.

Thanks for sharing Christ's love with your readers.

It is a blessing!!!

Roxanne
www.sharingnotes.blogspot.com

Indian Lake Papa said...

Roxx - I grew up in that area from 1950 - 1965, it was a beautiful tree! It was out in the middle of a large field and was very majestic! I never knew it was such a champion until years later. They fought hard to save her but DED took her life. We too need to fight hard.

Anonymous said...

I love a good tree analogy...and this certainly was one!!! ;)

The one about the roots growing deep and well-nourished by the river...that's my goal. I want to leave a legacy too -- a good legacy.

Thanks, Papa!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Michelle - she was a long way from water - but her roots I am sure went deep. After all she did live for over 300 years! I only have 235 to go to match that! lol

Robin said...

I can tell the tree was beautiful!

Great comparisons to life as always. God gave us trees and babies, etc... to teach us.

Much love,

Robin

Anonymous said...

amen amen!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I want to leave a legacy that points to Jesus...

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - I love trees and I love babies, as long as the babies are no longer mama's! Grand babies are the best - your day will come.

Rachell - amen to your amen!

Darla - if our legacy does not point to Christ then we leave everything behind - most likely our family as well.

CrossView said...

Awesome tree! And 300 years??!! Goodness! That's a lot of life!

Kimberly McKay said...

Poor tree. Wow you're good at taking everyday life and using it as ministry. Great post Papa.
I got out of jury duty...let me go without even calling my name. I sat for 8 1/2 hours on a hard bench and groaned and groaned....wondering why everyone was picked but me. God knew what he was doing though. That small handful that were left by 4 p.m. were released never to be seen again...yay!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - a very old tree that really did her best! Kinda the Michael Phelps of American Elm trees!

Kim - a tree that I knew for over 50 years !! Glad they let you go !! lol

Anonymous said...

this post made me remember a song I used to love, and today I love it again! I put it up with a link to your post. I love you!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - what will be my legacy is an ever bearing question - when faced with temptation I often think how would this affect my legacy? Not meant as a selfish question but rather as an accountability question.

Anonymous said...

I love this post Papa...

I want my legacy to be those that see enough of Christ in me that they to believe in Him. I want to be standing at the gates of heaven and see them come in and run to meet them.

Char said...

Another wonderful example from nature - you have a gift of relating your faith to what you see around you.

I hope you are keeping all of these thoughts in a notebook - they'd make a nice pocket inspiration book one day!

Anonymous said...

That was a beautiful tree. I hope all that wood was put to good use.

I think of death as just a recycling of whatever our bodies are made of.

Our legacy is the world we leave our children.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Carl - I thought about your comment in church tonight. If people can not see Christ in me then whatever legacy I leave would be in vain.

Char - actually I am working on a devotional along these lines - I need to get back on it!

Ed - I am not sure what happened to the wood - its not a pretty sight. I think it may have been hauled off - it really doesn't even make good fire wood. I am going to check one of these days - i know the owner of the property quite well.

Anonymous said...

Papa, maybe some of that wood is still around. You could have soemthing made out of it to remember the Buckley Elm by.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ed - thats funny you mentioned that - Darla and I discussed that last night chatting via IM. I am going to work on that. I am clueless right now what I could make. I collect wolf figurines and maybe something like a "fence" or decor to go with that. Any ideas?

rk said...

Hi Papa (and Mama),

If you have a moment, I need you to check my blog. I am going to be moving soon. My recent post explains.

Bless your sweet heart.

Roxanne

Tanya said...

What a beautiful tree. I did not grow up in Iowa, I grew up in Washington State. But, I am so loving the beauty and autumn of Iowa. I do not remember the leaves turning to bright colors of red, yellow, browns and oranges. It is so beautiful, so when I see a beauty like your old Elm it delights me. It also saddens me that the old beauty is now gone. I am not sure how I will go out, I pray everyday that I leave a large mark on my children and grandchildren and a larger mark on those around me. Especially the ones who are toying with the idea of Jesus. Your post are so awesome and I love to read them. Sorry about the wonderful tree. Love Tanya

Indian Lake Papa said...

Thanks Tanya - I hope to get to see Iowa better some day. I have briefly passed through it, but have not got a chance to look around. God's creation is a marvelous thing. even the elm must pass, die and move on - part of that creation. oh, but spring is coming!

Anonymous said...

Hello!

And I'm sorry about the tree.

It's really sad to lose the good things from our childhood. And I agree with what you said: it's just like losing our childhood as well.

PS: I love the analogy. Good one!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi brain! The tree was a spectacular tree. It will be a memory for years. How is your legacy doing? Thanks for stopping by!