Pohutukawa

Pohutukawa

"Good morning sunshine" I said when I woke up this morning. "It is a new day," said the sun. " I have something special for you today. With my rays I touched you while you were still asleep. I woke up the birds quite awhile ago and with their dawn-chorus they responded greeting me with their song "Good morning sunshine".

So I thanked the sun and the sun-maker. "Just as I settled for an ordinary day with the routine and usual things, your sun broke into my heart and danced your light across it in a joyful excess of giving. Thank you Sun-God."

" I will spread my colours over all the flowers," said the sun. "I will open all the buds that are still dreaming. Sap will cause a fire in branches, which will turn into green bonfires. The people in New Zealand will soon see the red summer-dress that I will put on their Pohutukawa trees. In a few weeks time they will enjoy their picnics under the shadow of these trees and their children will climb their branches swinging and singing, "Good morning sunshine".

During the pre-christian times the romans celebrated a feast day of the Sun. They appreciated its life-causing-light. That was on the 25th of December. For the Christians that day became the birthday of Christ Jesus. In him a new light has dawned upon the world. God has become one with his people and people have become one again with God. In Christ the everliving God has revealed his eternal plan of salvation and showed him as the light to every one in the world renewing all in his immortal image. What a light!

The Pohutukawa tree with its red blossom became the topic of another of my paintings. Along the waters of Porirua Harbour you see a whole row of those trees reminding the people of Christmas. In the distance you see the shopping malls of Porirua all showing off their Christmas goodies. Will they bring the real Christmas gift to the children?

"Summer-Jesus, the fullness of your light can be frightening because I sometimes I am lacking in courage. I fear sometimes my own weakness. It isn’t easy to live with a heart that is wide open to trust all. So Jesus, teach me to accept the days as they come, walking with you step for step, in your light. Touch my fears with sparks of your love."

Today is a new day. The sun is already high above the trees. The schoolchildren across the road are jumping and laughing during their morning break. For me it's time to have a cup of coffee with my neighbour.

Happy Advent and God bless

John Heijnen