Farewell to the Tree of Life: Closing the Easton Chapter of Our Lives – Purity 1948
– By M.T. Clark 04/27/2026 Purity 1948 Audio Podcast
Purity 1948 on YouTube:
Today’s photo, featuring what I have thought of as “The Tree of Life” at the end of “Freedom Road,” comes to us from yours truly. I captured this simple scene of springtime beauty yesterday afternoon during my final walk down my favorite dead-end farm access road in Easton, NY.
Before jumping in to help TammyLyn pack up the remaining odds and ends at the rental in Easton yesterday, I had to take my canine pal, Harley, for one last walk down Freedom Road to say goodbye to all the good times we had there, rejoicing in God’s creation and presence. The weather was spectacular—truly a parting gift from the Lord—and I was actively giving thanks and praise as I reflected once again on just how good God was to bring me into TammyLyn’s life.
As I walked, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for everything I’ve experienced in Easton since 2021. It was in that little house in the countryside that I truly learned to love again. It served as a sanctuary of restoration, a place where God proved His faithfulness as I transitioned from a solitary “monk” to a man with a future and a hope. Now, TammyLyn is in the house in Glens Falls that will eventually be “our home,” and while we say goodbye to the country, we carry the freedom we found there with us.
Saturday was our “Massive Move” day. Sunday was about doing the nearly final cleanup of our former “countryside home” in Easton. TammyLyn is now 99.5% moved to Glens Falls, with just a few remaining odds and ends to take care of and a final deep clean before she officially reports to her landlord that she has moved out of the rental at 115 Waite Road for good.
It’s Monday, it’s a new work week, and I’m tired; however, I can’t help but be thankful for the hard work I got to do over the weekend because it was all a part of God’s plan for my life. Ever since I answered the call to make Jesus my Lord and Savior, it’s been a thrilling adventure of wonder and discovery.
Speaking of wonder and discovery, knowing what I know, I can’t help but encourage others to develop a deep personal relationship with God. I am sharing the In Touch devotion from Sunday because it talks about having intimacy with God, and I know that is exactly what you need to truly “become a Christian.” Charles Stanley writes:
“Intimacy with God
You are already known, loved, and wanted by God. His favor is a gift, not a reward.
Romans 8:14-17
How would you characterize your relationship with God? Would you say He is like a friend you meet occasionally for coffee? Or would you say He’s a valued member of your household who is included in every aspect of daily life? Most likely, the nature of your bond falls somewhere in between.
Whatever the state of your relationship with the Lord, be assured that He wants something closer and more meaningful. God desires a connection so deep and strong that words like friendship and fellowship cannot fully describe it.
Of all the creatures on earth, human beings are the only ones made in God’s image. Like Him, we can think, reason, feel, and make choices, though we do none of these things as fully or perfectly as He does.
Jesus called His followers ‘friends’ (John 15:15), and Paul wrote that believers are sons of God (Galatians 4:7). Those are not distant, impersonal relationships! When we spend time with the Lord, we grow as close to Him as a beloved child to a father.
Some believers have the mistaken idea that doing something ‘Christian’ is the way to make God happy. But the way to please our Father is by being Christian. He wants us to live in such a way that others see He is our Father and best friend.” — Charles Stanley
Amen. I love the subtle distinction that Stanley puts forth. When I first put my faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, I desired to “be a real Christian,” but it was a completely new concept to me. I didn’t really understand the depth of what I had been invited into, but I was earnest in my desire, so I made a point of “doing Christian things” (prayer, Bible study, going to church, serving, and attending Bible college) to thank the Lord for His grace and to show everyone that I was a Christian now.
I was saved from the moment I said the prayer to make Jesus the Lord of my life, but God was gracious and used my zeal to “do Christian things” to help me grow in my knowledge and experience. As I pursued “knowledge about God,” I increasingly began to know Him more personally and intimately. That same “voice” that caused me to finally hear the truth of the Gospel was still with me, guiding me to know Him more and to “be” who He made me to be in Christ.
Now that I was a Christian, the Holy Spirit was guiding me into all truth and inviting me to grow in my faith through experience with Him. That guidance was continuous, and the more I followed the Lord, the more I knew Him and the incredible potential of His purposes for me.
I am far from perfect, but the Lord has used my willingness to become the person He created me to be to lead me into this amazing adventure of His grace. God led me to my wife, TammyLyn, in 2021, and now, with the move to Glens Falls completed, the “Easton chapter” of our lives is closing. Yet, I know that God will be with us through this next chapter and all the way until we see Him face to face.
So draw close to God and do those Christian things until you realize that you have crossed over from “doing” to truly being the person God made you to be.
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“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”
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