As an Arborist I've always had the pleasure of working on and in some of God's most amazing creations, trees. I'm truly amazed at the way God designed them. For example, did you know that a single tree can spend a hundred years growing and striving to get closer and closer to the sun? It does this because the sun is the source of power by which the tree must have to grow, but if that tree finds itself in the shade of another it can and will completely change the direction of its growth to get out of the shade and still reach the light of sun. Trees do some truly incredible things that most people are never aware of. Ever wonder why that big beautiful shade tree in your yard seems so healthy but year after year it always drops those little dead limbs everywhere? It's because the tree will only maintain and support the limbs that are contributing to the overall well being of the tree and the limbs that are not will be shed. It's Mother Nature's way of trimming away dead weight. Let's think about that and see how it compares to our own lives. Beginning in John 15:1 Jesus explains that he is the true vine and his Father is the vinedresser. Verse 2 he says Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it may bear more fruit. Jesus is referring to us as the branches and explaining how if we try to live according to His word then the Father will mold or in this case "prune" away the unwanted weight so that we will become more and more fruitful or beneficial to His overall plan and in return we will actually be receiving the benefits of His plan. So the next time you find yourself becoming shaded by all the hustle and bustle of the world ask God to do a little pruning in your life and don't be afraid to redirect your growth so that you too can be better at reaching the light of the Son because, just like the trees, we must rely on the Son as our true source of our power.
