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One Tiny Seed of Hope
- By Angela Beatty
- Published 07/17/2008
- Inspiration
Methuselah's Testimony
Five foot tall and basking in the sun, Methuselah casts his shadow across the room. While his presence warms the heart of everyone there, the shadow is a grim reminder of the darkness of his past…
The screams of women and children echo and hang in the air for a moment before silence makes its claim on the airwaves of the fortress. Suddenly, the harsh voices of angry men fill the cave. Their hatred is a venomous fog that clings to the rocks, smothers the already dim light, and clouds the minds of the men.
Was it just yesterday that Methuselah had felt the bright warmth of the sun’s rays where he was – just high enough on the hill to see over the walls of Mathada? He’d seen the Roman soldiers gathered there, but they’d been there for three years. They’d rattle their swords and curse the city, but inside the walls the men laughed as they stockpiled food that was so plenteous.
In fact, that’s how Methuselah came to be lying on the cave floor while the zealots pounded one another on the back and bragged of outwitting the enemy. He’d been put there to heal the sick, the hurt, and the wounded. Methuselah’s family had been long known to have special healing powers. In fact, many historians refer to any one of his family of date trees along the Jordan River as “The Tree of Life.”
Methuselah’s healing power wouldn’t be needed now. A calloused and dirty hand roughly grabbed him from among the other dates and propelled him toward a mouth lined with yellow and jagged teeth. Benjamin snarled, “Well, boys, we made a pact and it’s time to finish it up. The women and children are gone. Now it’s our only chance to turn the tables on those insufferable Romans!”
Benjamin’s mouth opened and putrid breath spread over Methuselah as the evil man began to chew the flesh away. In a moment it was over and Methuselah felt himself being propelled back into
the cloistering atmosphere of the cave. His journey ended with a thud at the bottom of a cup among other discarded date pits. Benjamin’s voice boomed even in the shelter of the pottery, “We said we’d rather die than surrender. Now it’s time for our final victory!”
Methuselah’s world became silent once more. In fact, Methuselah’s world became silent for a very long time. Outside his cave, Roman soldiers destroyed every living tree of his kind. Inside the cave, the bodies of the suicidal zealots decayed and became forgotten skeletons hidden away. But inside the silent little cup of pottery, Methuselah managed to keep a tenacious grip on a tiny spark of life.
Who would’ve thought in the tumult of the 1960’s, nearly 2000 years later, that hidden inside the shriveled little seed was a robust plant crying out for life? The archeologists and scientist who discovered Methuselah didn’t. They hid him away in a drawer for forty more years of dark silence.
Who would’ve though that in 2005 -after more than 2000 years of darkness - that the little seed being tentatively potted would one day stand proudly as the only plant of his kind… a plant that scientist hope will reveal secrets to it’s healing powers once more... a plant who may be the fulfillment of a dream to see date trees once again line the shores of the Jordan River?
Truly Methuselah's life is a living testimony just waiting to be heard...
For all those who have been chewed up and spit out by life
For all those who’s hearts have been shattered by one who would rather die than surrender
For all those who have lived alone in darkness
For all those who feel long ago forgotten
For all those who have seen the light of day only to be dashed back into darkness
For all those who still have a flame of desire burning for another chance at life
Methuselah’s testimony is one of hope!
Ecc. 3:1 To Every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecc. 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time
The screams of women and children echo and hang in the air for a moment before silence makes its claim on the airwaves of the fortress. Suddenly, the harsh voices of angry men fill the cave. Their hatred is a venomous fog that clings to the rocks, smothers the already dim light, and clouds the minds of the men.
Was it just yesterday that Methuselah had felt the bright warmth of the sun’s rays where he was – just high enough on the hill to see over the walls of Mathada? He’d seen the Roman soldiers gathered there, but they’d been there for three years. They’d rattle their swords and curse the city, but inside the walls the men laughed as they stockpiled food that was so plenteous.
In fact, that’s how Methuselah came to be lying on the cave floor while the zealots pounded one another on the back and bragged of outwitting the enemy. He’d been put there to heal the sick, the hurt, and the wounded. Methuselah’s family had been long known to have special healing powers. In fact, many historians refer to any one of his family of date trees along the Jordan River as “The Tree of Life.”
Methuselah’s healing power wouldn’t be needed now. A calloused and dirty hand roughly grabbed him from among the other dates and propelled him toward a mouth lined with yellow and jagged teeth. Benjamin snarled, “Well, boys, we made a pact and it’s time to finish it up. The women and children are gone. Now it’s our only chance to turn the tables on those insufferable Romans!”
Benjamin’s mouth opened and putrid breath spread over Methuselah as the evil man began to chew the flesh away. In a moment it was over and Methuselah felt himself being propelled back into
Methuselah’s world became silent once more. In fact, Methuselah’s world became silent for a very long time. Outside his cave, Roman soldiers destroyed every living tree of his kind. Inside the cave, the bodies of the suicidal zealots decayed and became forgotten skeletons hidden away. But inside the silent little cup of pottery, Methuselah managed to keep a tenacious grip on a tiny spark of life.
Who would’ve thought in the tumult of the 1960’s, nearly 2000 years later, that hidden inside the shriveled little seed was a robust plant crying out for life? The archeologists and scientist who discovered Methuselah didn’t. They hid him away in a drawer for forty more years of dark silence.
Who would’ve though that in 2005 -after more than 2000 years of darkness - that the little seed being tentatively potted would one day stand proudly as the only plant of his kind… a plant that scientist hope will reveal secrets to it’s healing powers once more... a plant who may be the fulfillment of a dream to see date trees once again line the shores of the Jordan River?
Truly Methuselah's life is a living testimony just waiting to be heard...
For all those who have been chewed up and spit out by life
For all those who’s hearts have been shattered by one who would rather die than surrender
For all those who have lived alone in darkness
For all those who feel long ago forgotten
For all those who have seen the light of day only to be dashed back into darkness
For all those who still have a flame of desire burning for another chance at life
Methuselah’s testimony is one of hope!
Ecc. 3:1 To Every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecc. 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time
Angela Beatty
I'm a Christian school principal/teacher and freelance writer. Most of my writing is on the Web: ezines, articles, e-books, Web page content, sales pages, etc. Although I've written everything from red-neck fishing guides to genealogy "how to" e-books, my expertise is in Internet marketing. My website is: http://www.ghostwritergal.com My blogs: http://www.gloriousgal.blogspot.com http://www.sundaymorningchalktalk.blogspot.com
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1 Response to "One Tiny Seed of Hope"
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said this on 24 Nov 2008 3:16:58 PM EDT
Wonderful , beautiful, I can only hope to aspire and write with the gift you have. God Bless, for a wonderful article. Where is this date tree planted at that you speak of, are there any updates??
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