I spent part of my birthday this year in an incredibly humbling and inspiring place- in the midst of the trees picture above.
Craning my neck to see what impressive features were hidden in the heights of these giants, I though about how much different they were then the massive structures we humans build. These monuments are alive and they have been for a very very long time. Somewhere about when David was anointed king of Israel, the oldest still-living Sequioa was spreading its first leaves, binding its roots together, digging them into the ground, and growing. Say what you will about my masculinity, but as I sat alone in the midst of this grove of ancient life, I found myself impressed almost to the point of tears.
Strangely, I also found within me a longing that felt a lot like jealousy. I mean, if this type of life is possible, I want it too. And I don’t just covet it because I want to be really tall and very old. I long for it because there is a quality and a strength and a slow valuable endurance represented in those tall trunks. There is deep life and sometimes I feel like my pool is so shallow.
But isn’t it true that the God who crafted those mighty eldrich forests has chosen to live inside of me in a way He does not inhabit any other creature? Perhaps if I could figure out how to truly wrap my soul around that, these trees would envy me.
On second thought, I imagine they would be even more content.
wow.. great picures.
When you get close to something so big it gives you awareness of how small we are relative to the rest of creation.
“There is deep life and sometimes I feel like my pool is so shallow”
Me too… sometimes i think about my lack of depth to an infanate God. In compareison to the tree, does it even consider my existance as anything relavant. So, realizing that someone more awsome (infact infanately awesome) than the tree, not only considers my existance but loves me very deeply, to the point where he would give anything to be in relationship with me…. Its pretty humbling.
“But isn’t it true that the God who crafted those mighty eldrich forests has chosen to live inside of me…”
God wants to live inside us but the choice is ours. We have to choose to let him live inside us. He wants it desparately. and even though he could he does not invade our boundry of free will no matter how great the bennifit for us… deep {full} life. Sometimes I wonder if I ever get anywhere close to the deep {full} life God has for me. Soemtimes i see the fullness of the life i live kinda small, and almost insignificat to the life i would be living (big like the trees) if i would just get of the way and allow it to be so… more of surendering and not of and acheving thing.
Benjamin
Ahoy fellow travelers. Something interesting is happening here. We may be destined to meet up. Contact me when you have a moment. I have a few questions for you. In the meantime, satisfy your curiosity if you wish by gathering information from my blog and my wife’s (rootedwanderer.blogspot.com). Send and email to wam(dot)afterschool(at)gmail. Be well.