Lessons from God’s Creation

The need for Depth

Walking in mountain country, one sees a lot of split and fall-en trees. Lightning strikes, disease, storms, drought, and fires create a harsh environment but rarely does one see a large tree torn up from the roots. In order to survive in the mountains, trees must sink their roots deep for water and to withstand powerful winds. If they don’t, they are blown over before reaching a significant height. So the tree we were looking at was an unusual sight.

The tree had become a virtual giant with no depth of root. There were several large roots extending in different directions but they were all going laterally, barely below the surface. This could only happen because the tree had grown in a sheltered valley with ample surface water.

For decades, this Douglas Fir had gown apparently healthy and strong while all the time hiding its fatal flaw — no depth of root. Most storms were deflected by the surrounding hills until one storm must have come howling down that valley with tremendous force. The tree would sway back and forth in the wind gusts until its roots began to snap, the smaller ones first, then the big ones, and the giant toppled over, pulling itself totally out of the ground.

As it turned out, this tree would have been far better off to have grown in a less hospitable area and been forced to develop depth. Looking at the scene, our minds went to the parable of the sower and the description of one class of believer: “The same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”

We reflected on our own need for depth of character and of spirituality. We thought of the need for a depth of Bible study which develops the mind of the spirit. Yet study itself is only part of the answer. We learn God’s ways by doing them; we develop endurance by enduring; we become forgiving by practicing forgiveness and so too for all the great attributes of character. If our lives hold no difficulties to endure, no hurts to forgive, we can look very good to others but lack the depth to survive the great storms when they howl through our lives. We need depth to endure.

I Wandered around the garden and yard, doing a few chores. Mostly, I was just enjoying looking at the plants, and listening to the birds. I pulled some mulch up around the asparagus stalks, pinched some dead heads off of the snapdragons, pulled a few stray weeds from around the pink rose bush and took the time to sniff the blooms. I noted which plants were doing wonderfully well, and which ones need to be helped or removed. I felt the wind on my face and watched the sky with its changing cloud shapes. All of these things are a quiet pleasure. We have waited many dreary months for this outdoor enjoyment. We had a long hard winter, and a reluctant spring.

All that bad weather has one worthy plus. It has the effect of making us truly appreciate the good weather when it finally comes. Sunshine, bright clouds, flowers, green leaves and birds all seem like a miracle after the cold gray winter. Now I can hardly imagine what our countryside looked like when it was covered with snow. Conversely, during the throes of winter, it is difficult to imagine the glories of spring. That makes me think about how in this earthly life we can hardly imagine the glories of our heavenly Father’s kingdom. And how after a sojourn in this mortal world full of bad days, we will feel such joy at the promised coming of our Lord. It takes the hard days to make us truly long for the kingdom, and appreciate the beauty of our Father’s saving plan.