Under the Fig Tree

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 1:43-51 

Under the Fig Tree 

The big wide leaves shaded me

The fierce sun subsiding

I took my rest and dreamed

like a small nestled child.

The light filtered through

gently waking me with hope

I reached up and ate my fill

sated and happy to be alive.

Under the fig tree I knew

myself completely alone

singing without restraint

a moment of heaven on earth.

All delight and joy

were my companions then

possibilities seemed endless

and hope returned to my heart.

The stranger later told me

he knew me under the tree

he knew me like the child I am

the man that I have become.

The stranger embraced my foolishness

my simplicity and my soul

and told me God is not far off

but lingering under the fig tree.