When I
think of all the wonders of God’s magnificent creation, I am especially awed by
the giant sequoia tree. These amazing behemoths of the forest can grow to
around 300 feet tall with a diameter that exceeds 20 feet. They can live over
3,000 years and are even fire resistant. In fact, forest fires pop the sequoia
cones open, distributing their seeds on the forest floor that has been
fertilized by the ashes. Perhaps the most amazing fact is that these trees can
grow in just 3 feet of soil and withstand high winds. Their strength lies in
the fact that their roots intertwine with other sequoias, providing mutual
strength and shared resources.
God’s
plan for us is like that. Our ability to stand tall in spite of the buffeting
winds of life is directly related to the love and support we receive from God
and one another. And then, as the writer of Hebrews says, we are to “do good
and to share” (13:16). Think of how tough it would be to withstand adversity if
someone were not sharing the roots of their strength with us.
There is great power in the entwining gifts of words of encouragement, prayers of intercession, weeping together, holding each other, and sometimes just sitting with one another sharing the presence of our love.
