What If the Christmas Tree Was Always Pointing Us to Heaven?
A reflection on the Cone Nebula, evergreen traditions, and the gift of Christ
This week I spent time processing an image I captured of the Christmas Tree Nebula, also known as the Cone Nebula. It’s a striking region in Monoceros, where newborn stars illuminate clouds of hydrogen gas in a way that resembles a glowing tree, upright in the sky. The shape is unmistakable. A celestial Christmas tree, lit from within.
It made me pause.
We decorate trees every December, stringing lights and ornaments, gathering around them with family and tradition. But the Christmas tree didn’t start as a Christian symbol. Its roots go back to ancient winter solstice celebrations, when evergreens were used to remind people that life would return even in the darkest season. Later, Christians in Germany began bringing trees indoors, lighting them with candles to celebrate the birth of Christ. Over time, the tree became a centerpiece of Christmas, a symbol of life, light, and hope.
Looking at the Cone Nebula, I couldn’t help but think: maybe this tree in the sky is a reminder too. Not just of tradition, but of truth.
The Christmas Tree Nebula glows red, lit by the energy of young stars. That red hue reminds me of the blood of Jesus, much like we talked about in the last post with the California Nebula, the reason we celebrate Christmas at all. The birth of Christ was not just a sweet story. It was the beginning of redemption. The light entered the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it.
Scripture says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). That tree wasn’t evergreen. It was rugged. It was real. And it was the reason we are forgiven.
So as I look at this nebula, shaped like a tree and glowing with the color of sacrifice, I’m reminded that Christmas is not just about celebration, it’s about restoration. It’s about a Savior who came near. Who lived among us. Who died for us. Who rose again.
And maybe, just maybe, the heavens are declaring that story too.
Simply lovely. I'm always looking at the trees outside, noticing how their limbs grow out & up, as though they're reaching for God. Makes me smile... #BeBlessed