The old river birch tree in the backyard is gone now. We brought her home in our car many years ago. She grew big and tall and was a great shade for these many years. Unfortunately, she couldn’t withstand the recent ice storm and broke. She was cut down and hauled away by the folks who do that type of work. I miss her. Sitting beside her stump this spring, I can see the sap rising, pooling on the top of the stump and running down the bark into the ground. I can imagine she is wondering where all of her limbs have gone as she continues trying to nourish them with her sap. Life continues to be living even if the tree has been cut down and hauled away. Maybe that’s what Easter or First Fruits is about. Life continues.