I'm reminded of a story I heard long ago of an aged man who was digging a hole in his front yard. A little boy came up to the tired and sweaty old man and asked, “Pops, what are you doing?” And the old man looked down and said, “Son, I'm planting an apple tree.” The little boy looked at the size of the tree and then looked up and saw the age of his elderly friend and said, “But, Pops, you won't be around to taste the apples when they do come.” The old man looked down with a generous smile at the face of his young friend, and said, “Long ago, someone I never met planted that old apple tree right over there just for me so that I could take a bite today. So, Sonny, just pass it on and learn the lesson.” It is in the words of this story that we keep on digging into the Scriptures and planting seeds of hope for those who will learn and pass it on. A new and better world is coming. It is in the words of “Pops” when he says, “pass it on” that we hear the reverberations of “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

Robin Webber

Pastor, United Church of God

Robin Webber was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1951, but has lived most of his life in California. He has been a part of the Church of God community since 1963. He attended Ambassador College in Pasadena from 1969-1973. He majored in theology and history.

Mr. Webber's interest remains in the study of history, socio-economics and literature. Over the years, he has offered his services to museums as a docent to share his enthusiasm and passions regarding these areas of expertise.