The Pine Tree

      When we moved into our house, it was surrounded and filled with large trees—mostly oak, pine and a tulip tree. Over the years, the pine needles on one tree began to disappear. It was a large tree, perhaps 80 feet tall, and soon, it stood, without needles, apparently liveless. In it, there was still a large nest, perhaps for hawk, very high up, and squirrels and birds, enjoyed the tree.
      Family members began to remark that the tree was a hazard and should be removed.
The tree appeared to be on our property line, adjacent to the power lines, telephone lines and the road. On our side, the septic system was underground, a few feet away.
      I first contacted the electric company, and was told that they would not remove the tree.
As time went on, I asked a tree-removal company to give an estimate for the removal of the tree.
An agent inspected the tree and gave a written estimate of $1200 to remove the tree, but they could not be “responsible for anything damaged above or below the ground” and they would not contact any other agency to coordinate their work.
      We had expected a high price, but the lack of responsibility seemed troubling, as this tree was close to electric and telephone lines, poles and the street and we did not know what might be underground. We knew that no equipment could go into our yard, because of the septic system.
      By now, the tree had taken on a definite lean, towards the street, away from our house.
I contacted the town and was pleasantly surprised that someone in the Department of Public works was concerned. He said he reached out to the electric company and believed that the electric company would be willing to remove the tree. He said to call with any concerns.
      Time went on, and we worried, when there were windy storms. Every month, I would call or write the town, but so far, the tree was not cut down. Tree companies were cutting down trees in other yards, but not this pine tree.
      Then we had a windy storm, that blew off the top 8 feet of this tree, onto the road. Thankfully, no one was present when this happened and no one was hurt and no property done.
      This time, I decided to call the electric company. A pleasant woman politely told me that no trees were being cut down, at the present time, due to covid 19. Though this made no sense at all to me, I thanked her. A few days later, in the evening, there was a phone call, doing a survey on my contact with the electric company. I mentioned in the survey, that the customer agent had been very polite, but had said the tree could not be cut down, at present, because of covid 19. I mentioned that this seemed ridiculous. (it does not seem that there is much close contact with people, in tree-removal).
      Several days later, as I came home from my early-morning walk, there was a policeman in the intersection, near the dead pine tree and a tree-removal truck nearby. When I asked the policeman why he was present, he said that the tall pine tree was going to be removed that day. I jubilantly went to tell the family.
      So, we watched that day, as the tree removal company completely removed the tall dead pine tree, with no damage to anyone or property. It was such a relief and answer to prayer.
      What a lesson this is in persistence and not giving up:

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”” Luke 18:1-8
      So, we must continue to persevere in prayer to our Heavenly Father, even when answers seem to be very long in coming.