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Phenomenon of those seeking miracle interesting to ponder
by Shanna Sissom
Midland Reporter-Telegram
It has been with utter but very respectful amazement I have watched a phenomenon unfolding on the east side of town where hundreds of people have flocked to a tree.
There, believers of this anomaly claim, is an apparition of the Virgin Mary on tree bark. Seepage from the area where a branch once extended is said to be her crying, and it is actually being retrieved with cotton balls.
With some imagination, a portion of the tree apparently damaged by storm resembles a traditionally-held image of Mary.
This phenomenon, in my opinion, has more to do with the spiritual quest of a vast number of seekers than the attraction itself.
Miracle-seekers in recent days, many traveling from well past our city limits, have adorned this tree with rosaries and surrounded it with flowers and candles.
Each day there are more objects of affection placed by the tree. Traffic jams have developed on the once quiet residential street, but crowds have been both reverent and remarkably quiet.
As far as I can tell, no one is enterprising with this. No makeshift vendors have appeared seeking profit and nothing from the site has appeared on eBay, but of course the latter may remain to be seen.
Regardless of our personal faiths, there is something interesting taking place here and it would behoove students of human behavior and perhaps ministers alike to take note.
Those who believe the Virgin Mary is weeping in that tree are desperately seeking a spiritual experience, and even those of us who are solidly skeptics of this should respect their astounding level of faith.
A Catholic priest early on told the people if you want to see God, come to church on Sunday, as he dismissed ideas of a miracle in the bark.
That's when I thought everything would die down, but as of Monday, more than a week after word-of-mouth about the tree so widely spread that it even became the subject of cautious media reports, the curious were still devoutly flocking. For those who desperately wanted to believe, it seems no one would convince them otherwise.
I've been out there more than once, each time walking away speechless and just totally blown away. There are no words to describe the uniqueness of that solemn scene.
The people there are indeed genuine, even though there's no way I can relate to what they seem to be experiencing.
But, recognizing my own Christian belief that it was God who ultimately created the tree, surely something really good can come out of all this.
Shanna Sissom is city editor of the Reporter-Telegram. She can be reached at shanna@mrt.com
There, believers of this anomaly claim, is an apparition of the Virgin Mary on tree bark. Seepage from the area where a branch once extended is said to be her crying, and it is actually being retrieved with cotton balls.
With some imagination, a portion of the tree apparently damaged by storm resembles a traditionally-held image of Mary.
This phenomenon, in my opinion, has more to do with the spiritual quest of a vast number of seekers than the attraction itself.
Miracle-seekers in recent days, many traveling from well past our city limits, have adorned this tree with rosaries and surrounded it with flowers and candles.
Each day there are more objects of affection placed by the tree. Traffic jams have developed on the once quiet residential street, but crowds have been both reverent and remarkably quiet.
As far as I can tell, no one is enterprising with this. No makeshift vendors have appeared seeking profit and nothing from the site has appeared on eBay, but of course the latter may remain to be seen.
Regardless of our personal faiths, there is something interesting taking place here and it would behoove students of human behavior and perhaps ministers alike to take note.
Those who believe the Virgin Mary is weeping in that tree are desperately seeking a spiritual experience, and even those of us who are solidly skeptics of this should respect their astounding level of faith.
A Catholic priest early on told the people if you want to see God, come to church on Sunday, as he dismissed ideas of a miracle in the bark.
That's when I thought everything would die down, but as of Monday, more than a week after word-of-mouth about the tree so widely spread that it even became the subject of cautious media reports, the curious were still devoutly flocking. For those who desperately wanted to believe, it seems no one would convince them otherwise.
I've been out there more than once, each time walking away speechless and just totally blown away. There are no words to describe the uniqueness of that solemn scene.
The people there are indeed genuine, even though there's no way I can relate to what they seem to be experiencing.
But, recognizing my own Christian belief that it was God who ultimately created the tree, surely something really good can come out of all this.
Shanna Sissom is city editor of the Reporter-Telegram. She can be reached at shanna@mrt.com
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
sir_iw wrote on Apr 16, 2008 3:27 PM:
" The judge who gave the go ahead to take the children already made up her mind, she does not care for polygamy. The state has already said the FLDS religion is harmful to the children. Child abuse must be investigated, they could have investigated at the ranch, not take an entire communities children for a phonecall that many say is fake. "
ParagonEos wrote on May 1, 2008 1:13 PM:
" I love the relay article! I think it's brings a much needed consciousness to the event. Here's to hoping that next year is an even bigger success! "
poker stoker wrote on May 14, 2008 6:58 AM:
" We pray for justice and rain believing there is a god, because the children of god can deliver neither rain nor justice.
Arson is all the proof one needs to know that god is far removed from this furnace. "
Arson is all the proof one needs to know that god is far removed from this furnace. "
Lee wrote on May 29, 2008 9:09 AM:
" Great story, great article as always! Gave this the ultimate vote. I encourage others to do the same. "
Resident wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:13 AM:
" I'm convinced that we need a good sales person in office. Forget politics, or affiliations. We just need a good sales person. Someone who can schmooz, someone who can talk for absolutely no reason and without interruption about anything, someone who can wine and dine dignitaries.
I'm tired of politicians with no backbone. People who don't stand for anything, but are only a mouth piece for the latest AP polling. This years Presidential nominees are an embarrassment to us and I hope not an indicator of our nation as a whole.
Anyways, carry on. "
I'm tired of politicians with no backbone. People who don't stand for anything, but are only a mouth piece for the latest AP polling. This years Presidential nominees are an embarrassment to us and I hope not an indicator of our nation as a whole.
Anyways, carry on. "
Susie wrote on Jul 1, 2008 10:40 PM:
" And what may I ask is wrong with Furr's Cafeteria? I have always preferred Furr's to Luby's. As a native Midlander, I am ashamed that all of this hullabaloo surrounds the closing of Luby's when we still have Furr's Cafeteria!
I was really miffed when Red Lobster closed several years back, and at that point in time, there was no place else like it.
Hoo Ray for Furr's Cafeteria and their great food!
Susie "
I was really miffed when Red Lobster closed several years back, and at that point in time, there was no place else like it.
Hoo Ray for Furr's Cafeteria and their great food!
Susie "
Kathy wrote on Jul 2, 2008 2:59 PM:
" I have to agree...what's wrong with Furrs? Furrs has sooo much better food, it also has a lot of Seniors who eat there. I wish we not only had Red Lobster back, but also Golden Corral! Lubys food was not that great, and now that those people have to go to Furrs, they'll see what they've been missing! "
Lubys lover wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:49 PM:
" Luby's was my place to eat daily, and in my opinion the food was much the best of the two cafeterias. And nobody in the world could match them for their iced tea! Many of the employees were like an extended family, worried about me when I didn't get there, and glad to see me when I did. Yes, they had some problems, but so does the other cafeteria; Luby's was by far the best. "
ParagonEos wrote on Jul 4, 2008 10:30 PM:
" I hope you find a suitable restaurant, but I don't think Furr's will be it either, their food taste cheaper everytine I go and the mashed potatoes give me heartburn nowdays? I truly feel your pain with the lack of better homecooking restaurants. "
Quercus virginiana wrote on Jul 20, 2008 11:19 AM:
" The Elm[s] gallery was once a local art museum of sorts. It catered to the well heeled who might find it inconvenient to travel long distances to stare at impressionist paintings. Apparently God has given to those who may be less sophisticated their own bit of impressionism on the eastside Elm at which they too can stare. "
rpatterson wrote on Jan 28, 2009 7:19 AM:
" Wonderful story Shanna! May God bless all who made such a positive change for this family, and continue to bless this family as well. "
the.shrubinator wrote on Feb 17, 2009 5:31 PM:
" I took notice of the second or third paragraph about the nostalgic ads which really signifies what the MRT truly is; a glorified [locally] ad circular..........Sam Pendergrast was the only worthwhile writer to ever grace the pages of the MRT.........he lasted about a year or two before they fired him for some truth telling about this desolate Burg. "
businesswoman wrote on Feb 17, 2009 5:51 PM:
" Shrubinator at my business we also rely on sales revenue to pay the salaries and bills. "
Eurasian fan club member wrote on Feb 17, 2009 5:57 PM:
" Shrubinator maybe Eurasian might have an experimental solution and also for businesswoman who relies on sales. "
Drilling Monkey wrote on Feb 17, 2009 6:00 PM:
" Love reading Shanna, as usual, thank you, and hi MOF'ers.. "
Drilling Monkey wrote on Feb 17, 2009 6:22 PM:
" Shanna, how about a story on how the lackj of drilling is affecting Midalnd?? "
just curious wrote on Feb 18, 2009 6:06 PM:
" didnt know there was a eurasian fan club how do you join?? "
just curoius wrote on Feb 18, 2009 6:07 PM:
" he is the most famous person in Midland that no one seems to have ever met. "
edges wrote on Apr 29, 2009 4:07 AM:
" Thank you, Ms. Sissom for intelligently discussing this subject in your column. You summed it up nicely when you said, It would be nice, however, if all people conducted themselves online as they would in person.
Some people enjoy wearing the cloak of anonymity the internet can provide for them. They feel free to say anything without fear of reprisal. They think nothing of posting something they would never say to someone they held in high regard. Many things can be said and much pain can be inflicted with a few key strokes.
I enjoy hearing opposite views and stating my own. I have a very hard time with small minded people who apparently forget common courtesies. State your case, but do it in a way that respects sensitive issues and the victims and families that are on both sides of some very volatile issues.
Some seem to forget that these sites, and others like it, are not our personal sandboxes. They exist due to the largess of individuals and companies that provide the space and the software for all of us to discuss and share opinions, views, opinions and ideas. I cant help but wonder how long these open and anonymous comment sections will be allowed to continue if they are continually abused and treated as if they are rights and not privileges granted, in this case, by the Reporter Telegram. "
Some people enjoy wearing the cloak of anonymity the internet can provide for them. They feel free to say anything without fear of reprisal. They think nothing of posting something they would never say to someone they held in high regard. Many things can be said and much pain can be inflicted with a few key strokes.
I enjoy hearing opposite views and stating my own. I have a very hard time with small minded people who apparently forget common courtesies. State your case, but do it in a way that respects sensitive issues and the victims and families that are on both sides of some very volatile issues.
Some seem to forget that these sites, and others like it, are not our personal sandboxes. They exist due to the largess of individuals and companies that provide the space and the software for all of us to discuss and share opinions, views, opinions and ideas. I cant help but wonder how long these open and anonymous comment sections will be allowed to continue if they are continually abused and treated as if they are rights and not privileges granted, in this case, by the Reporter Telegram. "
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Roland Spickermann wrote on Apr 2, 2008 10:59 PM:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/1/newsid_2819000/2819261.stm
It's a hoot! "