Getting used to living in a new home can be a bit of a challenge, and quite often there are things you discover about the place that you didn't notice before you signed the closing papers. Sometimes it's a leaky faucet or a creak in the stairs, but one guy in Texas got a whole lot more than he bargained for. Because one day, he found a ton of people standing around a tree in his front yard. Creepy, huh?

He noticed that the people were leaving candles and flowers around the tree and assumed that there had been some sort of accident there or something like that, which seems like a logical explanation. But as it turns out, crowds have been flocking there for a much more interesting reason. They believe that they can see the image of the Virgin Mary imprinted in the tree.

Seeing the Virgin Mary is a very sacred and serious thing to those who believe it's possible. Remember the guy who swore he saw her in his grilled cheese sandwich a while back? I think it may have even been put up for sale on eBay. Good thing nobody had any interest in eating it.

All religious aspects aside, I'm just not sure that I'd be too keen on having a bunch of visitors hanging out in my front yard every day. I mean, that would totally eliminate the possibility of running out there in my bathrobe to get the mail and hoping that no one sees me. (Not that I ever actually do that.)

The dude with the tree in Texas, however, is a really laid-back guy and doesn't seem to mind one bit. He actually embraces the fact that people are flocking to his tree, and thinks it's important to let them come and reinforce their faith.

At first glance, the imprint in that tree looks like -- well, an imprint in a tree. But when studying it with the Virgin Mary in mind, I can totally see her standing there. The resemblance really is kind of uncanny!

All the trees in my yard definitely pale in comparison to this one. I've really just got your average, everyday typical suburban yard. But I guess I'll have to take a closer look at my trees if I ever catch a crowd of people out there. You never know what might be hiding in the bark.

Would you let visitors continue to leave offerings if this tree were in your yard?

 

Image via Guitarfool5931/Flickr