What Might Trees Teach Us About Giving Thanks in Times of Turmoil?

Living in a rainforest, we have ample opportunity to admire trees.  Whenever I pause long enough to gaze at them, they seem to reach to the heavens, and to shout their exuberance in colour, blossom and fruit.  In return for life they seem to give thanks.

What else is going on?  

In order for the branches to reach the sky there needs to be solid, well watered roots.  As well as bringing water and nutrients to the tree, the roots help the tree to sustain stormy weather by anchoring it into the ground. The tree branches are supple; they bend in the wind.  If drought happens and the soil dries out, the tree may come down in a windstorm.

A well rooted and watered tree has a long and fruitful life. How do we enjoy a long and fruitful life? A life filled with things that will make us want to reach up to God in thanks?  What do we need to be rooted in?

Perhaps we can find the answer in Psalm 1:

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

When a seed is planted and watered, a root emerges, followed by a shoot that contains the leaves and stem. The root comes first, just as Psalm 1 tells us that we must be well rooted in God's Word to grow, flourish and to sustain the storms of life.

We welcome back Flo Kim to CVC Worship this Sunday, and we are moving from the wisdom of the Proverbs to the wisdom of the Psalms.  I do hope that you can join us in the chapel - I’m looking forward to seeing you, to worshipping with you and to learning with you.