to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. – Isaiah 61:3

I often write about the river here in Tarboro, so I thought today I would give a little love to the trees.

Mostly, walking around our immediate neighborhood and up to the Town Common (where a variety of trees have stood for hundreds of years, including this beautiful hickory), it’s the live oaks. We have some magnificent, gnarled, massive ancient specimens.

There is a dignity and a gravitas to these trees that speaks of history, of the South, of continuity, of English colonialism and of planting for the future.

Sometimes when we get caught up in our own selves so much and our focus is exclusively inward, it is helpful to meander around the historic district and take in a view that stretches out over several centuries. The trees can help here.

Calvary Churchyard has some especially lovely examples, but every one of the streets in our neighborhood feature substantial, stately, historic trees.

There is a particularly powerful oak tree reference in the writings of the prophet Isaiah. And what a great way for people to be described: “Oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord…”

I believe the phrase serves as a really useful description for the longterm witness of Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church here in Tarboro. God planted this church in 1874, and there has been a whole lot of righteousness growing up and moving out from and around the intersection of St. Patrick and St. James.

One day soon (maybe after it cools down) I will take a long walk through this community and photograph nothing but the trees.

If we only listen, I believe that these trees have stories to tell… I absolutely know that the Oaks of Righteousness down at the Presbyterian Church do.

Peace, and every blessing – DEREK