The story behind a magnificent maple tree reminds Cheryl Bistayi of the positive impact we can have when we open our eyes and hearts to the life-giving connections all around.
CHERYL BISTAYI
Allendale: Valley UMC
I needed something life-giving today.
The angst in our country breaks my heart. I am saddened beyond words by the violence, and I am profoundly disturbed by our seeming inability to find common ground.
As long as I have breath, I will continue to try to model what I believe I am called to be, but in this moment, I just needed to take a breath.
So, I stepped out once again onto our balcony, which is only about 10 feet by 3 feet but holds two chairs, a table, and flowers.
I love it.
As I sit on my balcony, I see Indian folk, Asian folk, European folk, Hispanic folk, white folk, brown folk, and black folk. I also see lots of kids and pups, so I hear yips and yells and more than one language. Makes me feel richer, fuller, safer.
I love it.
This maple is also what I see, and that tree has a story to tell.
And remembering that story breathed some life back into me.
About eight years ago, I was sitting on the balcony reading when I heard and then watched a car crash into the tree across the way. I jumped up and called my husband, Joe, and 911, and we both ran down there.
The lady and her child were okay, so Joe helped the mother climb out of the car. The neighbor, Nadine, whom we had not yet met, came out to encourage the little girl to climb out of the car by telling her about her cats and soothing her with them.
Nadine explained afterward that in her homeland of Germany, the first thing one does in an accident is remove the children, so when she heard the crash and came out, her first instinct was to reach out to the child.
That moment of shared angst marked the beginning of a great friendship with Nadine and Uli that continues even now that they have returned to Germany.
But, back to the mama in that car! The woman was also from abroad but spoke with a familiar accent. It turns out she was from Hungary, which is where all of Joe’s grandparents had emigrated from through Ellis Island. That led to some meaningful connection until her husband, the police, and the paramedics arrived.
Fortunately, they were both okay.
The tree, however, was not.
So, another tree was planted, just a tiny little thing.
And look at it now!
Just lovely.
I find hope in that, especially on days like today when I am longing for something positive.
I need something, as I said earlier, that is life-giving.
So, I share this story with you.
In case you, too, need a little life-lift.
Last Updated on September 29, 2025