Friday, October 21, 2011

The Root of Bitterness

I found this to be a provocative illustration of Hebrews 12:15 when it speaks of the "root of bitterness".  How often our lack of forgiveness and unwillingness to address something outright can lead to a root of bitterness, a poison tree, living in our lives.

A Poison Tree

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

William Blake

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