Bare Branches

It has been a rather dreary week!

I have only seen the sun peeping through the clouds briefly this week!

And though the temperatures have been above average the last few days, I found myself a little cold in my office earlier this week!

So, I walked over to my heater… leaned over the vent and let the warm air blow over me…hoping it would remove the chill from my bones!

As I was getting warm, I looked out the window of my office and took in the view of the campus!

Normally, I look out and notice the beautifully landscaped campus!

I love to see the trees outside my window budding in the spring…and all of the plants bursting forth from the ground! 

And in the fall, I gaze upon the vast array of red, orange and yellow leaves that adorn the large trees outside my window!

But today…what stood out…was the bare…naked branches!

No spring buds…no greenery filled my view…no colorful leaves to gaze upon!

Just dark…exposed branches!

And as I continued to look at the trees, I noticed the sturdy thick trunk.

I noticed large limbs shooting out and up from the trunk of the tree…with numerous smaller branches extending from each of these limbs.

I realized I had never really stood and looked at the trees when they were exposed.

My eyes had only lingered on the trees when they were covered with beautiful leaves!

And I began to wonder…

How old were the trees that stood outside my window?

Were the planted shortly after Shilling Hall had been built?

What has allowed these trees to withstand the test of time?

What has allowed them to continue to grow…stretching their branches upward…

Standing firm…when the cold winds blow…

Ezekiel 31:7 states…”It was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, for its roots went down to abundant waters”!

The large tree described in this scripture was nourished by an abundant source of water, allowing it to grow so that its top appeared to reach the clouds!

I can picture that magnificent tree…

I can picture numerous birds building their nests in its branches…

Animals seeking shelter in its limbs…maybe even giving birth to their young ones under its protection!

I thought about that scripture…the key phrase that stuck out was…”its roots went down to abundant waters”.

I am assuming the trees that stood outside my window have been there for quite some time…and that their roots run deep into the ground…seeking water that is needed for their continued growth!

Those deep roots seek nourishment that is necessary for the tree to thrive in the ever-changing climates!

Just as each of these trees need nourishment to live, so do we!

The abundant water described in Ezekiel symbolizes the Word of God!

And it is the Word of God that sustains us!

His living water is what nourishes us!

It makes us strong!

It helps us face the ever-changing climate that is around us!

Without God’s word…it becomes increasingly difficult to stand firm when our faith is tested!

Without God’s word…we cannot recall scripture to call upon when the enemy is attacking! 

Without God’s word…we wither…just as a tree would wither without an abundant source of water…

So as I continued to gaze upon the trees…I realized it was their deep roots that allowed them to continue to grow…

That allowed them to bloom each spring…

That allowed them to display their glorious fall colors with the changing seasons…

That helped them to stand majestically and beautifully before me!

And that I need to be just as concerned about my roots…

Making sure that my roots sink deep into abundant waters…His Living Waters…

God’s Word…

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for your Word!  Thank you for this Living Water that refreshes us when we are weary…and encourages throughout the day!  Help our roots to sink deep…into your abundant waters!