Thursday, May 26, 2011

Is 41:39 trees and kids

Was reading of the trees that the Lord would plant in the wilderness and desert to show that He will prosper and provide in the most unsuitable places. I started to look up these trees to see just what their growing preferences were... interesting, for example, the Cypress is the unofficial 'tree of the swamp' and He will grow it in the desert! :)  as I went on thru them the care information I found for the Acacia tree was on a forum site, chatter back and forth on care questions. They were talking about caring for the Acacia tree for the winds that come in Arizona, it is a warmer climate tree.  as I read I made a connection to our kids and spiritual kids that we all are...
    It talked of how to stake the tree (or not) and watering the tree properly, to produce a strong healthy tree years form now. One guy said, 'most of the trees I've seen go over have been staked too long (or not at all) and/or have been watered at the trunk daily.'  ...and these trees have fallen. 
The Staking - the suggestion (I do have a spiritual application here, just go with me...) was to stake the very young tree and the give it more line as it matures, let it have some wind but if it is really blown there is something there to hold it and give it strength...but the wind will help to strengthen it. Yet there is a safety to hold if from totally getting itself whipped over. 

~are you seeing the application?~


The Watering - They suggest watering deeply, stinking a probe down in the ground out along the drip line (where the branches come out to) watering those outer edges of the roots, not just at the trunk. A healthy tree will grow roots to the edges of it's branches, watering out there encourages it to reach out and grow and those roots are the ones that take in the water the most readily.   When the tree is pushed by the wind the outer roots are the ones that need to 'grab on' to hold the tree upright.  The main root closer to the trunk is big and works by going deep, storing water and giving constant stability - but the outer roots have to be healthy, with lots of roots to grip and help hold on when the winds blow. It takes the whole tree root system to battle the wind.


~ahhh~


We have to know when to pull the stakes from our kids and move them in a bit closer to give them some 'wind room'. Do I 'stake' my kids too tightly that they don't experience the 'wind' of life? We have to strengthen them little by little (let them make safe mistakes) or when the 'stakes' are pulled they will go down with the first big wind.  Do we ever really pull the stakes and let them stand tall on their own?  Is this a choice that they make? Will they make the choice to let God control the stake placement? These are things that are running around in my mind...   As adult Christians do we have 'stakes' guards in place to support us if the winds get too rough? Would one of those be the Spirit?
How are we watered?  My thoughts are; by the Word (Deut 8:3), fellowship, instruction of parents/pastoral teaching, ministering to others... Am I watering my kids and others to help them grow? am I just turning on the hose and letting it run and soak the topsoil? or am I digging down a bit, putting in some effort, and getting the water to the specific area that needs it and can get it easier.  maybe with some fertilizer mixed in!!  ah-hah! :)  turning the hose on isn't bad, but the other is better...  
~Two last thoughts...~
       the Myrtle (myrtus communis) I read, is a shrub of sorts - will make it on it's own, but if it is given care it is a pretty small tree and will flower.  hmmm...
 Above the rock formation you can see a couple skinny trees.
       the staking thing reminded me of when we were in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry Hotel.  In the center was a gorgeous -I mean gorgeous - garden with palm/coconut trees that went way up high, maybe two three floors high.  their bottoms were the same width as their tops... not thicker at the bottom... we were told that if they experienced any push from the middle-top portion they would topple over easily, because they have not experienced any wind.  that is also why their trunk is all skinny, not filled out at the base.  
The experiences that come in life, that we don't enjoy, can strengthen us if we let them.  I is up to us to see that we are watered and staked well...

    No matter the climate, if God has placed us there - He will provide that we can survive and thrive!  Is. 41:17-20 

Cypress - swamp tree, good in bogs.   Box - moist well drained soil.
Pine - baby pines shielded from the hot sun or they will burn, susceptible to dehydration.Cedar don't over water, not extreme temps.   these are not typically trees one would plant in the desert....

 Myrtle shruby if left to itself, nurturing will produce nice small tree.  symbol of peace and joy :) Oil - probably the Russian Olive tree, though not related to the olive tree -different species- this is a weed tree here in the states. seeds are spread through their berries that the birds eat. low grade oil, not like olive oil we use. Acacia - needs proper care to make itself strong enough to make it past the first few years, then it is a beautiful tree and strong enough to make it.   these trees seem to need care to do well, look well, or keep controlled... not ones to just let go in the wilderness...