For the worship series on the Book of Revelation, I wanted to build a Tree of Life. In the last chapter of Revelation, it says, “On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations.” (Rev 22:2)

My idea was to build an ominous looking black paper tree, but during the process, a child asked me if she could help. The Tree of Life took a different direction – one more whimsical, colorful, and playful. It wasn’t what I planned, but sometimes inviting the child guides you on a different path and it would be a missed opportunity to not take it.

Since the tree was clearly more colorful, I used flowers and leaves from past art installations.

MATERIALS: black butcher paper, colored chalk markers, window screening, wire