Summer Is Nigh
Summer Is Nigh Matthew 24:32–35 What can an ordinary fig tree teach us about living through change? At our church in Fremont, a fig tree grew outside the main doors. Its fallen fruit could be messy, but during fig season, there was always a snack available. My friend Bob understood that tree. He knew when to prune it—usually sooner than I thought appropriate. Because he paid attention and cared for it at the right time, it thrived. I never became an expert in fig trees. But I learned to notice a little more. Jesus invites his disciples to learn from a familiar tree. Tender branches and emerging leaves tell them summer is approaching. Recognizing the season helps them respond, even though they do not know every detail of what comes next. Jesus was addressing people whose familiar world would change. The temple seemed extraordinarily secure. Yet even that great building would fall. We know something about that experience. Institutions change. Familiar arrangements disappear. ...
