TREES.

Imagine, if you possibly could, living in a a world where there were no trees.The landscape would be so bare, the hills all bald, and our planet would actually die because it depends on trees to survive. As I write this, I am holidaying up in the Victorian countryside and trees surround me everywhere I look. Trees are such a beautiful addition to every landscape. Painters for centuries have been entranced by the awesome variety of colors a tree will display, according to changing light and shade.

They change so much as each season passes too. In the Springtime the burst of goldish-green new tiny leaves is quite spectacular. Weeping willows, I think, look absolutely majestic at that time as their lime-green buds trail down to the water’s edge at river banks. During the Summer we have leaves which are strong, dark green and fully grown. They are able to give us the shade we need for the long hot days, and make beautiful long shadows as the sun sinks slowly at dusk. Autumn time is definitely the real showtime for deciduous trees………no one could imagine the amazing depth of golds, reds, oranges, burgundies and browns as the leaves say farewell, and in my imagination, take a final bow, before falling gracefully to the ground. Winter time is so different, but trees are equally amazing even then. During the Winter we can see the outline and shape of the branches so well, and the lightness of their frames makes me astonished that they can bear such weight with all the summer and autumn leaves hanging from them.The light frame of the Winter trees also allow as much sunlight as possible to come into our windows, to lighten what could be otherwise a dull day. At this time the evergreen trees give us their own glorious show-time, with water droplets from the winter rains shimmering in the misty, foggy mornings. I used to love silently walking through the forest early on a winter morning, where all is still and I feel it is truly Holy Ground. God speaks to us through trees, as with so much of nature.

The poet Joyce Kilmer expressed the grateful sentiments of many of us. Many of you will have learnt this poem at school.

I think that I shall never see A poem as lovely as a tree. A tree where thirsty mouths are pressed Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast. A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair. Upon whose bosom snow has lain Who intimately loves the rain. Poems are made by fools like me But only God can make a tree.

In Psalm 1, King David speaks of the man who is one of God’s followers. (Read the Psalm.) Here we see that the man or woman who loves God, who delights in doing what is pleasing to God, and thinks about God’s ways, who reads in the Scripture to find the very best way to live, that person is actually “like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

So you see, you are to God as a lovely tree. It takes a very long time to grow a solid, tall, strong tree.It takes many years of patience. To make a tree strong enough to withstand storms and wintry gales, the tree needs a deep and firm root system. The roots are mostly never seen……they are hidden under the soil. But the beautiful branches and leaves depend entirely on the strong root system which is not visible to anyone.

Two Bible prophets had encouragements for us. Listen to Jeremiah (17:7,8): ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He 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 are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit’.

Hosea, another prophet, said it rather like this (paraphrase of Hosea 14:5,6,7): ‘God will be like the dew to His people : each one will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon each will send down its roots; its young shoots will grow. Its splendour will be like an olive tree, its fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon…my people will flourish’.

Jesus talked about you and me as trees too. In Mark 4 : 30 Jesus was talking about the people who make up the Kingdom of God. He likened you and me to a mustard seed, which, when planted, grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that even the birds can perch there.

St. Paul urges us to be like tree. In Colossians 2 : 6 and 7 he says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

This gives us a wonderful picture of how we can grow to be a strong, unshakable tree. We need to develop our root system and keep on living in Christ Jesus, who is the soil of complete love for our hearts.Let us continue on in the faith we have been taught so that we will indeed be a beautiful tree, no matter what season our lives are traveling along.

One last reminder, which really is important too……………that last phrase in v.7………..”and overflowing with thankfulness.” If we, no matter what our situation is, can continue on with thankfulness to God and a thankful heart for those things and people around us, we truly will be a lovely tree…..remember in the Autumn and Winter times of our lives we actually are giving our most beautiful display to the world and especially to God. It will show in our branches and leaves as we grow and reach out with thankfulness to all who know us.

The poem is so true. Listen to it again……….”Only God can make a tree.” You are just like a tree to God.

Next time you look at a tree or a picture of one, remember you are just as beautiful as a tree to God, and be thankful.

SING: You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace, etc. (Well known Chorus).

(C).2004. Christine M. Jones.