Who could forget the great tsunami of 2004? It happened the day after Christmas and took innumerable lives. But it also gave us something: a perfect illustration of the Christian faith. It is the story of Malawati.

Malawati was a young Indonesian woman, in her early 20s, who miraculously survived five long days adrift on the Indian Ocean before being rescued. She did so by clinging to a tree – a sago palm – and eating its fruit. Think about where you were and what you were doing five days ago. That’s how long she was out there, day and night, clinging to that tree.

The parallels are obvious – and remarkable! It is certain that we Christians would drown in this world, in its many doubts and confusion, were it not for a tree – a tree that will not sink, a tree we have to cling to. That tree is the cross.

In addition, we eat the tree’s fruit: the true body and blood of Christ. Sweet, nourishing fruit! By it we are strengthened to cling to the tree all the more firmly. Even the word “cling” is a perfect definition of faith (Deut. 10:20).

After the flood, God gave Noah the sign of the rainbow. After the tsunami, God gave the story of Malawati.

In a word, cling to the Tree and eat of its Fruit.