“So then, just as you received Christ
Jesus as LORD, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV)
At the edge of a rocky overlook in the Appalachian
foothills stands a lone two-hundred-year-old evergreen tree... Through the
years, it has defied heavy snow, hailstorms, and the steady, westerly winds
rising off the valley floor. From it's vulnerable view of endless ridges and
valleys, it has seen conditions that would snap most trees in half.
Nevertheless, it stands strong.
What's the secret?... The answer lies below the surface.
For literally two centuries, the elements have hurled their assaults against
the tree. But while storms raged on the outside, the tree quietly developed an
inner support system to sustain it. Every gust of wind sent the roots sprawling
deeper into the soil, expanding the tree's tenacious grip on the mountain...
We are all like trees subjected to the stormy elements of
life. And when they come, we either snap or grow stronger. What makes the
difference is not the ferocity of the storm but the depth of our [relationship
with Christ].
-- adapted from Andy
Stanley in “Like a Rock"
#4319
EDITOR'S NOTE: This quote reminded me of an image I captured last year and posted to my photography website...