A Word from Pastor Kate
This week, I read an interesting journal article from the University of Florida entitled, Wind and Trees: Lessons Learned from Hurricanes.” Scientists from UF and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences studied the impact on trees over the course of ten hurricanes. Here are some of their findings:
- Unhealthy trees are more likely to fail during hurricanes. Conversely, healthier trees are better able to withstand the winds.
- Well-pruned trees lose fewer branches and have better odds of survival.
- Trees planted in groups survive winds better than trees growing alone.
- Trees with deeper and wider root systems are less likely to fail when assaulted with hurricane-force winds.
You may be wondering what trees and Florida hurricanes have to do with a bunch of Christians in Indiana… Quite a lot, actually.
There are many spiritual lessons we can learn from God’s natural creation, including trees and hurricanes. The same qualities that make a tree healthy and strong in difficult environments help disciples stay spiritually healthy and strong, especially in seasons of distress.
- An unhealthy relationship with God means we will be less resilient and more vulnerable to spiritual failures during times of difficulty.
- Pruning our lives of sin and idolatry makes us spiritually healthier and keeps faith strong
- Disciples who seek to learn and grow in Christian community fare better than those who try to do it alone.
- The deeper and wider our roots are- the more spiritual depth and commitment we have- the more likely we are to survive the trials life throws our way.
This is why the discipleship pathway matters. It provides a process for disciples of Jesus- wherever we are in our journey- to grow spiritually. It connects us to other disciples along the journey. It roots us in the spiritual disciplines, such as Scripture, prayer, and service, that keep us standing when the winds of life blow. The process will expose the sins and idolatries that impede our relationship to God and prune them from our lives. It will help us be healthy and strong so that we can withstand the hurricanes we face in life.
Take some time this month, and consider where you are on the discipleship pathway. Are you exploring Christ? Beginning? Growing? Maturing? Wherever you are, there are classes, groups, and activities that will help you move closer to Christ. If you want further direction, connect with Pastor Kate, who can help you find your place in the pathway and begin the journey moving forward. Jesus wants us to be like the healthy trees, with deep roots, pruned branches, and other trees by our side. Those are the trees that keep standing under pressure.
Pastor Kate
