Ever since Post-Tropical Storm Fiona slammed into Atlantic Canada, I have had trees on the brain. So many trees lost leaves and branches, or were completely toppled. On the Friday night, as the winds began to build, I was watching the trees being whipped into a frenzy. Some of the smaller trees seemed to bend almost in half. It was both frightening and awe inspiring to see. By midday Saturday, when the worst of Fiona had passed, pictures of branches and whole trees down all over the Island began to populate my Facebook feed. The impact was devastating, and even a month later people all over Atlantic Canada are still working to repair the damage and clear the debris.
The whole experience got me thinking about the factors that contribute to a tree's ability to withstand a storm like this. There are several, but there were a couple that jumped out at me. They have well developed roots, that go deep into ground that is solid and steady. They are largely free of rot, and invasive pests. They have trunks and branches that are strong, but flexible. And they are surrounded by other trees. Ones that are also deeply rooted, healthy, and flexible.
Our spiritual lives are much the same way. If our identity is not rooted deeply in a solid knowledge of God's unchanging character, we cannot begin to grow strong. If the core of our theology is rotten with personal preferences and misinterpretations, we are in danger of a "faith" that is focused on our own pleasures and desires. Without proper understanding and context we are constantly in danger of cherry picking and twisting scripture to disqualify people we do not agree with, all the while excusing our own sin. We need to be strong enough in our faith to trust God's goodness and provision, but flexible enough to hold our expectations and plans loosely. To hold too tightly to our own way of doing thing can leaves us susceptible to heartbreak in the face of difficult circumstances. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, without an intertwined faith community that is also firmly planted in the character of God and a deep understanding of His Word, we can become unstable during the larger storms and be uprooted. A community of steadfast Christians with whom we can share our lives shelters and steadies us. They help us go through bigger storms than we would have ever managed on our own.
I honestly doubt that there are any trees in Fiona's path that escaped the storm's wrath completely unscathed. The Autumnal glory of the Island is definitely diminished this year. But the trees with deep roots, strong and flexible trunks free of disease, and the shelter of other strongly rooted trees? They are still standing. They will continue to grow. In time they will show their new beauty, shaped by storm they have endured.
And so, my friends, will you.
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