January 16: Insight Post by Julie Christensen
Friday Insight Post
by Julie Christensen
All this talk about trees this week, and Pastor Rusty’s landscape business, made me curious. A few Google searches later, I had added a wee bit of knowledge to my mental Rolodex. While the facts themselves were interesting, what intrigued me most was the maturity of trees, as God was speaking to me through both His Word and His trees with words like “consistency, longevity, endurance, duration, continuity….” Meditation is not a quick fix. To reap its benefits, one must be consistent. The rewards are found in longevity, not instantaneously. If a bird drops a dogwood seed this afternoon, will we have a beautiful, blooming tree by Monday morning? One of the most common trees in Virginia, known for its vibrant fall colors, is the maple. The red maple typically reaches maturity in 20–30 years, growing 12–18 inches annually. Think about how slow that is. The maple doesn’t quit. It soaks up the sunlight. It absorbs the nutrients. It endures the seasons. Slow and steady, it continues to grow. God spoke plainly to me this week through these tree facts, asking if I was willing to grow the same way:
Am I being slow and steady?
Am I continually meditating on His Word?
Am I sitting still long enough, like a tree, to actually hear Him?
Am I enduring the seasons and allowing Him to strengthen me?
Am I continually meditating on His Word?
Am I sitting still long enough, like a tree, to actually hear Him?
Am I enduring the seasons and allowing Him to strengthen me?
If we toss some dirt over an acorn tonight, we won’t have an oak tree tomorrow.
Julie Christensen
Senior Director of Silo Center
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org