You can learn quite a bit from looking at a tree. Do you see any ‘lessons’ here?
Consider its location; it’s set apart from the woods behind it; it’s set apart from the crowd. It isn’t brand new, in fact it appears to have been there for quite some time. It stands tall, and yet it shows some signs of having survived many storms. Yes, I think we can learn something from this tree…
As Christians, we live in a world that is largely in rebellion against God; this is well documented and I doubt I need to elaborate on it today. In this tired and confused world, we are supposed to be “set apart” for God, and as luck would have it, that is exactly what the word “holy” means. We are supposed to be holy. This tree, in a sense, is “holy.” All too often Christians seem to have the mistaken notion that holy means “perfect” or better than other people, but it simply means set apart.
To be set apart means that we don’t live for all of the things that our world calls upon us to do or be. For example, in today’s culture we are supposed to put ourselves first, to look out for number one, to go for the gusto (whatever ‘gusto’ is). A boss told me once that if I don’t blow my own horn nobody else would either. He was right, but are we supposed to be so self-centered? Well, in the culture, yes, but if we are set apart for God: No. Are we supposed to be concerned simply with the idea that he who has the most toys wins? Not if we live a holy life.
To give all glory to God, to put others first, to be selfless and to serve God by serving others: this is what it means to be holy. To keep being holy through long years, trials and storms, this is what a tree can teach.
Isn’t it amazing what we can learn from a tree?
I live in sherwood forest area n the major oak where robin hood is said to have lived is there its gnarled n supported now by a metal frame. It features in history or mythology n as a child I ran freely around it. Climbing in the whole like a cave n climbing the branches this is a magical standing proudly in the centre of the forest is a must see feel like maud Marion or robin hood
If you look closely at this tree you will see it was once two trees. As followers in Christ we too can become “one” with the Holy Spirit growing stronger each day as we mature in the word-woods. From simple seeds to mighty canopy symbolized as Arms Wide Open.
Nicely done!
WOW! Did you have the same boss as me?? I once had a boss tell me the same thing as to why i did not get a promotion i was after in the secular world. I told him i simply wasn’t the type. I did not get the promotion.
)!
Lucky for me at the time, I did get the job. Funny thing was as long as I worked there (I was EVP) I always gave credit for things to my subordinates and took the blame if something went wrong. The Boss never quite understood why I could get more out of people than he could; gotta love folks like that!