Growing Pains

I like this tree. There are a lot like it here in Brazil. The cleared ranch land that surrounds it today was most likely very different when it was growing to that height. Like most trees in the jungle, it probably spent most of it's early life striving to reach the distant heights of the canopy, where it could get sunlight. So much of it's focus was upwards that it spent no energy putting out lateral limbs. No telling what forces caused that bend towards the top. Whatever it was it must have seemed overwhelming at the time.

Our family is in the midst of a difficult time. Brin especially has had some difficult days. It's hard to identify any one cause, but the result has been almost overwhelming. We leave in a few days to renew our visas in Santarem. I'm hoping it will be the break we need and will return with new life. Please pray for us over the next few days.