DOGWOOD LEGEND REMEMBERED

While area residents enjoy the blooming dogwood trees during this pre-Easter week, Christians are reminded of the "Legend of the Dogwood."

The dogwood blossoms "can serve as a nice, visual reminder from nature of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Dr. John Owen, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

"Since the dogwood blooms in the spring around Easter time, it's a timely reminder of the cross," the pastor said.

Owen emphasized that the dogwood story is a legend. That was also stressed by the Rev. Charles Dreyer, interim pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

"It's a beautiful legend that supports what the church teaches about Easter," Dreyer said. "It's not scriptural, but part of the church's tradition."

Dreyer said the story adds to the Easter celebration, similar to other Christian legends, such as the Little Drummer Boy, the Fourth Wise Man or "The Friendly Beasts" carol that accompany the Christmas story of the Bible.

Mary Blue described the Legend of the Dogwood in her Ladybug column in a 1977 issue of the Southeast Missourian. She said the dogwood is unknown in Bible lands.

"The legend says that at the time of the Crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because it was so firm and strong, it was selected as the timber for the cross.

"To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this. In his gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering, Jesus said:

"`Because of your regret and pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross.

"`Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal, there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red. In the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns and all who see it will remember ...'"

Testifying to this marvel is the dogwood tree blossoming next to the front door of the First Presbyterian Church at 235 Broadway. The outside centers of the shorter petals have a reddish tinge. The flower's center could easily remind a Christian of a thorny crown.

"The cross is a symbol of God's redemption of the whole world, not just the human race," Owen said. Referring to the writings of Paul and John, Owen said all of nature, including both the material and spiritual worlds, will be redeemed through Jesus Christ.

"Dogwoods are so glorious," Dreyer said. "They speak of the joy of Easter and reflect God's creation."

Because Easter is a movable feast and comes fairly late this year, Dreyer likes the dogwood trees blooming at the same time. He said the early spring temperatures have brought the two events together this year.

Easter is always the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. It can be as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.