But the comfortable 5-hour drive from Houston to the plantation
turned into a frustrating 9-hour trip because of numerous delays
along I-10. When we finally reached our destination, we knew that
tours had eneded more than two hours before our arrival. We were
disappointed.
We pulled into the empty parking lot and stared at the back of the
mansion from a distance, disheartened that our plans for a peaceful
tour of the grounds was now impossible. We were about to drive away
when an employee approached us . . . to ask us to leave? . . . no,
to invite us to wander around the grounds at our leisure
and free of charge. For over an hour we had the entire plantation
to ourselves.
We
spent most of that hour walking in the awesomely beautiful and peaceful
“alley” of enormous oak trees that create a 200-yard
avenue that welcomes visitors to the mansion. It is an amazing scene.
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As
we strolled among the trees which have stood here as silent sentinels
for 250 years, we couldn’t help thinking of all the history
they have seen and all the storms they have endured. Through showers,
thunderstorms and hurricanes, they have stood here as silent guardians
of this mansion.
Isn’t God like that? Life’s storms blow into our lives,
sometimes even becoming times of deep worry or raging fear. But
our Lord is always present, quietly watching over us and gently
holding us in his arms, giving us the courage and peace to endure
as we remember that “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still waters; he restoreth my soul.”
Even in the midst of life’s worst storms, “Yea, though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil, for thou art with me” (from Psalm 23).
The trees at Oak Alley Plantation have stood for 250 years. But
“his steadfast love endures forever” (1 Chron-icles
16:34).
Ted Stephenson
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