It never ceases to amaze and surprise me that it still surprises me, when I notice a singular theme that I'm in the middle of learning about, show up in many places. I'm grateful that God is persistent in my stubborn unteachable nature. It isn't that I'm incapable of grasping new ideas or understanding complicated scenarios; I simply hold onto what I believe very strongly which makes it very difficult to unlearn things I thought I knew. My stubbornness has often had some negative feedback but nevertheless has given me the gift of determination and perseverance. While I may act hard headed and strong willed at times, my persistence in continuing to seek truth also lives there. I will not give up no matter how great of a struggle I have to overcome. What does any of this have to do with the trees?
Today I stood watching two women discussing the pruning of a tree. This particular tree needed to be dug from the ground along with several other fruit bearing trees. This small orchard had been partially blocking the only drivable area for a truck to access a well, replace the pump and restore the water supply. The trees would have eventually died from lack of water, and the people at this residence have enjoyed having running water in their home, thus fixing this issue was fairly high priorty. These trees of course would not know that their very survival was contingent upon being dug up by their roots. I know next to nothing about caring for plants, but I do certainly know they need water.
So back to the tree in question, apparently when a tree is displaced from it's happy life in the hole it's become accustomed to, it must be pruned in order to survive the trauma. I stood listening and watching two women, who apparently know such things, discuss the situation. The question of how much to prune, where to cut it back, and who was going to make these decisions, was slightly cut short by the man who had helped dig the trees up. He cared about the survival of the trees as well, this made obvious by the care in digging up the roots and placing them in temporary pots until they are given a new permanent hole in the ground. He asked the two women if they'd like him to do it by what his heart says? The women agreed to this and immediately handed him the clippers. I silently watched with curiosity as he began. The first cut shocked me that so much needed to be removed, but in my own lack of experience and knowledge I remained quiet and still. I continued observing and took in a lot of information to ponder and learn from. With no unlearning to be done, my own thoughts didn't pull me into opinions because I had none to offer. I didn't dwell on any one particular observation because there were too many things to take in. I watched the man continue to clip back large portions of the branches. I saw the two women watching quietly and listening to his words as he verbalized his thoughts on each branch. I could see they trusted him, they didn't question his judgement, they believed that his heart was for the best interest of both the survival of the tree and the future bearing of fruit.
I thought about this scene many times today. It continued to filter into things I was reading, experiences of the past few days, and my beliefs about God. Some of these centered around parenting, some in generalized ways of difference between male and female, some thoughts actually about trees, but mostly in the end came back to thoughts of correction and discipline. I wondered if the women in this scenario were concerned about the beauty of the tree, or wanting to be gentle and not prune too harshly or possibly not wanting to act without considering the relationship between them and one being the owner of said tree, whatever the reasons it produced a hesitation in talking it out. I began to think of many times I hesitate in places of change. The man chose to step forward and make the first act in the startling cutting away process. I thought about the nature of decision making and the differences in process leading to action. Not in a judgment way but observing need to talk it out verses the need to decide and act. I thought about how annoyed my son gets in the talking phase of deciding how to handle a problem and how my daughter can banter back and forth without a conclusive decision being the goal. It intrigued me.
The things that I actually needed in the current learning place with God, were the greatest things I walked away with though. I've been thinking a lot about the disconnect in understanding the daddy love of God in ways that contradict what I thought I knew. How I view God has been colored by things I've been taught to believe are true, either by experiences with people in roles of authority or love or by actual instruction. This has led to some very untrue beliefs about who I am also because I concluded that God must see me through the same colored lenses. This unlearning process has been a struggle for me. Many times I've wrestled with why I can't seem to comprehend these places of truth, even knowing that I'm not lacking intelligence. I do eventually gather that learning new things is way easier than unlearning old things.
This saga with the tree pruning began to sink in a little more (I apparently learn things quicker with visual and tangible added to a lesson with words). I can learn things just fine with words but the unlearning happens faster with a visual and experiential example of how it plays out, and I happen to be very fond of analogies (parables and stories).
So what's the point?
~Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.~
The tree didn't have a choice about how it wanted to be pruned or not. I think honestly if it could have an opinion on any of this, it would not have wanted to be uprooted in the first place. Though due to the situation it could not possibly understand, it wouldn't have known it would die if it kept it's roots firmly planted where it was because the water source couldn't be restored. It likely would not have welcomed the pruning it needed to live in it's new residence and how much needed to be cut away to thrive and bare fruit. If the tree did grow to understand and trust it's caretaker's hearts, it could change it's opinion. It has no say as a tree about how it's taken care of but I could clearly see that the intention of the people in this story were very intentional about the actions being taken not just to see the tree survive but to see it thrive.
I'm only beginning to grasp that this is truly God's heart toward me. That even when I'm standing in the wrong place, he is carefully and intentionally loving me toward thriving. Even when I don't want to be uprooted from what feels good solid and safe, he knows the situation better than I do. He gently (even if it doesn't feel gentle) uproots me from my own destruction and moves me to a place I can survive, to meet the survival needs first (lack of water to the tree), and begins pruning what will hinder my ability to thrive in my rescued life. If I believe His care to be in my best interest then I may fight against this less and in time grow to receive it with welcome and joy. I have only grown so far as to accept my life in the safety of the pot and have gratitude for being rescued from what would have killed me. I am still learning to accept the cutting back and the correction of how I see things through my colored lenses. I have seen some fruit grow in places of discipline correction and pruning before, changes that I did not welcome or embrace as good at first. God's faithfulness in this increases my faith and trust. Trust increases my willingness to be corrected. Seeing healing come in corrected places just as the cut branch grows, and experiencing fruit that couldn't grow there before, brings hope. Hope brings endurance and persistence in seeking. The determination to find truth begins to remove what skews my view of God. And as I begin to see God more clearly, I long for more and can imagine finding pleasure in his correction.
Proverbs 3
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Today I stood watching two women discussing the pruning of a tree. This particular tree needed to be dug from the ground along with several other fruit bearing trees. This small orchard had been partially blocking the only drivable area for a truck to access a well, replace the pump and restore the water supply. The trees would have eventually died from lack of water, and the people at this residence have enjoyed having running water in their home, thus fixing this issue was fairly high priorty. These trees of course would not know that their very survival was contingent upon being dug up by their roots. I know next to nothing about caring for plants, but I do certainly know they need water.
So back to the tree in question, apparently when a tree is displaced from it's happy life in the hole it's become accustomed to, it must be pruned in order to survive the trauma. I stood listening and watching two women, who apparently know such things, discuss the situation. The question of how much to prune, where to cut it back, and who was going to make these decisions, was slightly cut short by the man who had helped dig the trees up. He cared about the survival of the trees as well, this made obvious by the care in digging up the roots and placing them in temporary pots until they are given a new permanent hole in the ground. He asked the two women if they'd like him to do it by what his heart says? The women agreed to this and immediately handed him the clippers. I silently watched with curiosity as he began. The first cut shocked me that so much needed to be removed, but in my own lack of experience and knowledge I remained quiet and still. I continued observing and took in a lot of information to ponder and learn from. With no unlearning to be done, my own thoughts didn't pull me into opinions because I had none to offer. I didn't dwell on any one particular observation because there were too many things to take in. I watched the man continue to clip back large portions of the branches. I saw the two women watching quietly and listening to his words as he verbalized his thoughts on each branch. I could see they trusted him, they didn't question his judgement, they believed that his heart was for the best interest of both the survival of the tree and the future bearing of fruit.
I thought about this scene many times today. It continued to filter into things I was reading, experiences of the past few days, and my beliefs about God. Some of these centered around parenting, some in generalized ways of difference between male and female, some thoughts actually about trees, but mostly in the end came back to thoughts of correction and discipline. I wondered if the women in this scenario were concerned about the beauty of the tree, or wanting to be gentle and not prune too harshly or possibly not wanting to act without considering the relationship between them and one being the owner of said tree, whatever the reasons it produced a hesitation in talking it out. I began to think of many times I hesitate in places of change. The man chose to step forward and make the first act in the startling cutting away process. I thought about the nature of decision making and the differences in process leading to action. Not in a judgment way but observing need to talk it out verses the need to decide and act. I thought about how annoyed my son gets in the talking phase of deciding how to handle a problem and how my daughter can banter back and forth without a conclusive decision being the goal. It intrigued me.
The things that I actually needed in the current learning place with God, were the greatest things I walked away with though. I've been thinking a lot about the disconnect in understanding the daddy love of God in ways that contradict what I thought I knew. How I view God has been colored by things I've been taught to believe are true, either by experiences with people in roles of authority or love or by actual instruction. This has led to some very untrue beliefs about who I am also because I concluded that God must see me through the same colored lenses. This unlearning process has been a struggle for me. Many times I've wrestled with why I can't seem to comprehend these places of truth, even knowing that I'm not lacking intelligence. I do eventually gather that learning new things is way easier than unlearning old things.
This saga with the tree pruning began to sink in a little more (I apparently learn things quicker with visual and tangible added to a lesson with words). I can learn things just fine with words but the unlearning happens faster with a visual and experiential example of how it plays out, and I happen to be very fond of analogies (parables and stories).
So what's the point?
~Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.~
The tree didn't have a choice about how it wanted to be pruned or not. I think honestly if it could have an opinion on any of this, it would not have wanted to be uprooted in the first place. Though due to the situation it could not possibly understand, it wouldn't have known it would die if it kept it's roots firmly planted where it was because the water source couldn't be restored. It likely would not have welcomed the pruning it needed to live in it's new residence and how much needed to be cut away to thrive and bare fruit. If the tree did grow to understand and trust it's caretaker's hearts, it could change it's opinion. It has no say as a tree about how it's taken care of but I could clearly see that the intention of the people in this story were very intentional about the actions being taken not just to see the tree survive but to see it thrive.
I'm only beginning to grasp that this is truly God's heart toward me. That even when I'm standing in the wrong place, he is carefully and intentionally loving me toward thriving. Even when I don't want to be uprooted from what feels good solid and safe, he knows the situation better than I do. He gently (even if it doesn't feel gentle) uproots me from my own destruction and moves me to a place I can survive, to meet the survival needs first (lack of water to the tree), and begins pruning what will hinder my ability to thrive in my rescued life. If I believe His care to be in my best interest then I may fight against this less and in time grow to receive it with welcome and joy. I have only grown so far as to accept my life in the safety of the pot and have gratitude for being rescued from what would have killed me. I am still learning to accept the cutting back and the correction of how I see things through my colored lenses. I have seen some fruit grow in places of discipline correction and pruning before, changes that I did not welcome or embrace as good at first. God's faithfulness in this increases my faith and trust. Trust increases my willingness to be corrected. Seeing healing come in corrected places just as the cut branch grows, and experiencing fruit that couldn't grow there before, brings hope. Hope brings endurance and persistence in seeking. The determination to find truth begins to remove what skews my view of God. And as I begin to see God more clearly, I long for more and can imagine finding pleasure in his correction.
Proverbs 3
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.