It was over two weeks ago that heavy rain and high wind brought an end to our drought.  It was Saturday, July 14.  As we looked out the window, it appeared that we had escaped any serious damage.  We were grateful for the rain.

At church on Sunday, Sylvia and I heard reports of damage around the neighborhood.  Several trees had been hit hard by the storm.  A major branch had blocked our road to the south of us.  (Church is north.)  We felt very good to have experienced no such thing at our house.

After church, we ate lunch in “town,” which is actually the village where our post office is located.  As we returned home, we were headed north on our road.  Then we saw the top of a neighbor’s tree snapped off. It was huge–almost as big as my waist.  Yes, that big.  Fortunately we didn’t have anything like that at home.  As we approached our driveway, we both saw it.  Sylvia spoke first.  “Do you see that?”

It was one of our favorite maple trees.  Why would it do that?  It’s a good healthy tree.  Right?  Of course it is!

Oh my.  What a pity!

Look closer.  That tree had cracked–not broken–some time ago.

This crack would have teed into the crack where the break occurred.  The dead wood and the outer layer growth indicates this was done a few years ago.

I estimate that the old crack was about 30-inches long.  I guess this poor tree has been doomed for years.  It only needed the right storm to seal its fate.

I suppose there is a parable in this.  One about undetected flaws that go unnoticed and untended until the time of testing by storm occurs.  It made me think about such things.