Almost three years ago one of our favorite hiking spots was devastated by fire. Today we went on a hike there and, thanks to recent rains, were treated to some beautiful scenery. I didn’t take any photos of all the wild flowers in bloom. But I found a perfect illustration of the theme of “restore”. There are some trees common there (unfortunately I don’t know what they are) and they burned in the fire. Black scarred trunks and branches adorn the landscape. But if you look a bit closer you can see the outer burned layer peeling away and new life beginning to show. This tree is farther along in its restoration than most of the others. Death and resurrection…in a tree…as we approach Holy Week.