The Perfect Christmas Tree

I recently saw a news story about a North Carolina lab where scientists were trying to develop the perfect Christmas tree.  I’m all for them, since  I’ve never seen a perfect Christmas tree.  My grandmother insisted on making all the decorations new each year for her tree – popcorn strings, blown eggs, dipped in a variety of colors, etc.  The tree at my parent’s house was always purchased late in the season, because my mother was usually allergic to it. I always loved spending part of Christmas with my Aunt & Uncle because they had a large, sprayed tree with lots of gifts under it.  During college days, my roommate and I actually went out in the country and cut a tree for our dorm room. Following Christmas, a discussion broke out in our room as to whether an old tree would burn.  Someone lit a match to it and sure enough, it burned.  Another student grabbed the tree and drug it into the shower.  When the water was turned on, the smoke turned the walls of the shower black. It was not my best Christmas.  Through the years, we’ve had a variety of trees for our kids, grandkids, and now, great grandkids.  Thus far, all have been special, but none have been perfect. So, I’m looking forward to this North Carolina perfect tree. I did find that “the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth” (1 Chronicles 16:33). I hope this North Carolina company gets their perfect trees ready by then.

Dr. Dan R. Crawford, Senior Professor, Chair of Prayer Emeritus; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. Former Head of Task Force for the Teaching of Prayer in Theological Education for America’s National Prayer Committee.  Administrative Consultant for the Valley Baptist Missions Education Center.