The Jesus Stump

It had been a long day at work and I knew the evening was only going to get longer, because this was the night I was going to pick up the 'stang from the dealership. Five days without my baby had been tough, but she was in perfect shape now, after being so sick, and if I didn't have a 40 minute drive to pick her up, I probably would have been a little more excited about the reunion.

So as I pulled into the parking lot in front of our apartment, half listening to the radio, I was tired and a little grumpy, and just wanting to get upstairs and hop in the shower for a quick five minutes. Corb wouldn't get off work from his job at Binkley International for about fifteen minutes, so after I fed the cats, I was free and clear to

That's when I saw it, through the windshield of my car. In the woods next to the parking lot.

It looked like a person at first, but then I shook my head and realized it was too short to be a person. Then I thought it was possibly a statue. But who would place a statue in the woods like that?

A plastic bag? No, no, not exactly.

What could it be...? And then it dawned on me, and a chill went up my spine.

I realized I was looking at a tree stump in the shape of the Virgin Mary.

"I've just seen a tree stump in the shape of the Virgin Mary!" I said to Corb after he hung up on a caller.

Corb looked as if I had just told him that Bette Davis was living in our refrigerator. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm serious! I just saw a stump in the shape of the Virgin Mary! It's a religious miracle, I tell you. Come on, you have to see it to believe it."

Ten minutes later, we were back out in the cold, and Corb was standing at his car, looking a little startled. "Well, I don't think it looks like the Virgin Mary, but...well, it is kind of strange looking, I have to admit."

"More like a man?"

"Like a monk," he said. "With his hands, reaching out..."

"Like a Jesus?"

Corb shook his head. "It could be Jesus..."

"That's it! It's a Jesus stump! Corb, we're living next to a freaking Jesus stump. Can you believe it?"

Now, I know what you're thinking. How in the world could a tree stump possibly look like an image of Jesus? But I took photos, I have a proof! I know, I know, the pictures don't do it complete justice. It was hard to take a clear photo of what we saw. Still, even in the photos, I think you can clearly see the outline and the image.

So, there you are, the Jesus stump. I expect lines to form, pilgrimages to begin. I expect miracles to occur and holy men to drop by. Heck, if a big deal can be made about the face of Jesus in a corn flake, I certainly think that my crazy little stump warrants just as much attention and publicity. Don't you? So, start spreading the word, true believers.

"I kind of like finding a Jesus stump in our front yard," I said to Corb, as we headed off to pick up the 'stang. "I think it's a good omen. 2011 is going to be a good year. Our year."

I know, it's crazy. But then again...it honestly did make me sleep a little better last night. Wouldn't you?