“His followers
will thrive like
watered grass; like willows on a riverbank." ~ Isaiah
44:3-4
The old saying, “A picture is worth
a thousand words,” suggests that an image contains far more in color and
content than words ever could. But for
those who love to write, carefully fashioned sentence structures have tremendous
emotive power that bring pictures to life.
I don’t have a clue as to this incredible tree’s back story. What follows is pure fantasy.
In a perfect world, every garden would have that perfect,
loamy, well-irrigated soil, with just the right amount of sunshine, never too
cold in winter or too hot and dry in summer.
Meanwhile back in the real world we
face difficult, ofttimes unpredictable conditions. Fortunately, there are a few hearty saplings that’ll
survive, even thrive, in the most unlikely places.
Look around. Nature’s
creative projects surround us, each in their own way proclaiming God’s wisdom, magnificence
and goodness. There’s so much we can
learn.
There is no ‘perfect’ location for a seed to germinate or a
root to sprout. Trees will grow wherever
conditions nurture them best. Take a
page from nature’s handbook - explore freely? Change can be good and there’s always more of
the world to explore.
Just as this tree has the strength to weather decades of
storms, we too must find the strength to endure all the ‘blows’ life presents. Trees also have the ability to heal themselves. For us, adversity is reality; so, it’s how we
react that reveals our true character.
By burying its roots, a tree continuously matures through
nutrient rich soil. So must we sink our
roots deeply, allowing our network of closest family and friends to provide spiritual
sustenance, help us grow, and be the constant in our lives that keep us ‘grounded’.
Trees never die. They’ll
simply decompose into mother earth and become fertilizer for the seeds it
scattered seasons ago. We too are
perpetually ‘becoming’. When this dream
ends, we’ll be reborn into a new one
prepared earlier with our karmic actions. To achieve one’s greatness, you’ll need to tap
into new levels of effort, discipline, grit and courage.
One final word. Tree
branches seem to reach toward Heaven, as if in prayer. This reminds me that no matter, I should
always remember that it doesn’t take much effort to reach my hands toward
Heaven, whisper a prayer, and remember our Creator while admiring His creation.
What a wonderful time to prayerfully and
playfully exploring the beauties and mysteries of God.
Lord, help me to cultivate my roots in You. Gift my foundation with wisdom and my fruit with abundance. Guide me so that I bend, not fall, when the winds of life blow - for many are the benefits of life with You! Amen
