Can we be inspired in the middle of war?

As I write this a war is happening in Europe.  I have been glued to BBC's account of Russia invading Ukraine - on edge and wondering what lies ahead in the near future.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60517447

It is easy to gloss over the question of inspiration.  What relevance does the question of inspiration have in the middle of war?

If we understand the role of inspiration it might answer this question.

How does inspiration play a role in your life?  What inspires you?

Inspiration has a way of connecting with your past - your history - and motivating you in the present toward a future.  Where do you come from?  Where are you going?

In my Pinterest account I have a page titled: Tree Inspiration.  (10) Pinterest

What can we find inspiring about trees?

Our present context: War in Ukraine, questions of freedom and convoys in Canada, COVID 19, begs the question of finding inspiration in life.

Is there a story that can inspire continuing perseverance?  

I once heard someone tell a story of some ancient trees.  

When God made the world he planted a garden.  In the garden were two trees: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life.   God told Adam and Eve that they could eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  

One tree gave humanity the freedom to choose - the other tree, the tree of life, gave humanity the freedom to enjoy God forever.  

But the story in Genesis 3 shows that the human freedom of choice destroyed the human freedom to enjoy God forever as Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree.

The rest of the Bible tells stories of war and asks questions of freedom and we see sickness and one problem after another as humanity exercised their freedoms of choice.

Then we come to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - the Gospels - and they tell of another tree.

This tree - actually it was two tree trunks cut into beams - and assembled into the shape of a cross - carried Jesus alive and acted as a publicity declaration for the Roman Empire.  They thought they had power over life and death.  Jesus - pinned to the cross with nails - died there on that tree.  This obedient choice brought us the freedom to choose eternal life - so we can enjoy God forever.

The beauty of the cross seems so foolish.  The Messiah - all powerful creator of the universe - submitted himself to be crucified so that the people who killed him along with all ancestors and ultimately all humanity could have the freedom to choose life with God.    

So.  Where do you come from, where do you go - even in war time - is wrapped up in a story with three trees.

We can be inspired even in brutal realities.

Happy tree inspiration!