The fall weather here has been beautiful lately. I love autumn. It’s my favorite season. We have many trees on our property and I never tire of watching them go through the changes each season brings. One tree in particular has special significance to me. It’s the Gingko tree. This tree was one of the first things I spotted when my husband and I were shopping for a house. I recognized it immediately and felt it was a sign that good things lay ahead.
If you have never seen a Gingko tree it looks kind of different than other leaf-bearing trees. It grows more in a triangular shape and the leaves bud out from all along the length of the branches. The leaves themselves have a distinct shape—kind of fan-shape. The vein pattern on the leaf is also specific only to the Gingko. They have an interesting texture, too, being thick and almost rubbery feeling. When fall arrives the Gingko tree has another unique characteristic; it drops its leaves all at once. One day it is full of leaves. The next morning all the leaves are a rug covering the ground around the wonderful Gingko. Now here’s a little history on the Gingko tree. Gingko trees are ancient trees dating back to as far as history is recorded. They originate in eastern Asia and are slow growing but steadfast trees. They have survived nuclear disaster. Gingkos are symbolic of longevity with a lifespan of up to 1,000 years and can reach giant proportions (over 100 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter). This is one amazing tree! I can’t help but admire this little tree and wonder how it ever ended up on our front lawn. It seems so far away from its ancient homeland and it looks a little out of place among the other towering trees around it. Those who know about its significance seem to share in my affection for the Gingko. The rest of our trees are more native to our area but essentially they all have the same basic needs. And every single tree in our yard is growing in the same direction--- Up. I take time to provide this tree with a little extra care by watering it when necessary, pruning nearby trees to allow adequate sunlight, and keeping furry critters from burrowing beneath and damaging its roots. When it comes right down to it, it doesn’t really matter to me how the Gingko tree got here. I welcome this unlikely resident and want it to be happy here and at home among the other trees.
I think of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Some grow rapidly and are big and towering while others may be slower growers or just saplings. Some have lives that are native to the Church with a long family history and rich in tradition. Some come from lives far away and foreign but for whatever reason they are planted in the Church, too. I pray for the sensitivity to provide a little extra care to those who may feel out of place or who are thirsty for a refreshing drink of Christ’s love (John 4). I pray that God will use me to help remove obstacles that might block the Son and his Life-Saving Light (John 8). I pray for the strength and discernment to rely on the Word to fetter out any harmful thing that might fester and threaten faith like immorality, gossip, jealousy, hatred, unkindness or rudeness (Galatians 5). These little critters can do lots of damage and cannot be allowed to make a home among us. Like the Gingko, I as a child of God I am blessed with longevity. Eternity has been set in my heart (Ecclesiastes 3).
It doesn’t really matter where we came from. The Master put us together and our unity is pleasing to our Creator (1 Corinthians 12). I don’t know about you but I just feel good when I do anything that pleases God. It seems like so little for so much in return. Jesus, sweet Jesus, lived a life I could never live—a perfect life! And he was brutally murdered for it. I wish I could have offered Him a cool drink to ease his suffering even just a little. I wish I could have somehow interfered and stopped the beatings. I wish I could have uncovered the lies and deceit that marked the charges against him. But that wasn’t the plan. God planted the seed of salvation way, way before any of us ever existed. That seed was meant to grow to gigantic proportions and provide shelter for all of mankind. Christ could have stopped his suffering and He didn’t-- for me and for you He endured. What I can do, though, is show Jesus how much I love him that he allowed himself in all His perfection and glory to carry every sin to be hung on that cross.
I can share God's love as the Spirit enables me to follow the Lord’s ways according to His Word. I can do so not because I’m such a good person because I’m not really so inherently good. I need God’s direction and He promises that I’ll have what I need. God planted me in his love and because of that I have the privilege of growing roots deep in His faithfulness.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.”
~ Romans 15:5-7
