The Old Tree
There is just something about an old gnarled tree that makes me ponder life. I love trees. I love to sit in trees, lie under trees, gaze through the branches of trees into the sky, and listen to the rustling leaves in the gentle breeze. I imagine the roots of the tree and how far they travel to find the groundwater that provides sustenance. I observe the branches as they stretch and grow toward the sun.
Oh to see what that tree has seen. Life has literally passed under its branches.
I have seen huge trees uprooted by heavy winds; laid over for all to see. Amazingly, the roots of those giant trees were actually very shallow because the water table was too close to the surface. The water came too easily. The tree grew big and beautiful without putting its roots down deep.
Those old trees are such a perfect example of our lives. All of us go through seasons. If everything in our life comes too easily, our roots will be shallow and we will not be able to withstand the tough times. The storms and droughts of life bring strong character with deep roots of faith. People come and go. Life happens around us and we continue to grow. We continue to put down roots and reach toward the Light. We become old and gnarled as we are torn and tattered by the trials of this life.
But, in the end, we can stand strong in the face of trials and adversity because we are like a tree planted by streams of water.
“And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in is season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3
“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves area lways green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8
