The Wrecked Acorn

With lots of acorns on my running path, one caught my eye. It was a “wrecked” acorn. As I picked it up, I remember what Hannah Whithall Smith, an 19th century evangelist and author once said: A mighty oak can only grow from a wrecked acorn.

As the 20th anniversary of 9-11 had me retreating from the world, I held that acorn and wondered what mighty and beautiful things can grow out of the wreckage in our lives? I wondered, too, what do we really need to remember from that fateful day two decades ago.

Perhaps, we need to remember the love and the compassion that we showed one another — a love and compassion that seems to be missing today.

May your time at Old Stone Well Farm be a blessing to you and to all you share this video with.

James 3:1-9

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,^[a] for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. ⁴ Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature,^[b] and is itself set on fire by hell.^[c] 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.

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