Lessons From the Life of a Tree

On a hike a couple weeks ago, I came across a log that had been cut to clear the trail. I stopped to admire the rings on the end cut of the tree. Then it occurred to me that the number of rings looked roughly equal to my age. I counted the rings and discovered the tree was about ten years older than me.

I immediately thought of the scripture, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12, NIV).” I looked at the center of the tree and the little dot that marked its beginning, then admired the years of growth that made it a tall, towering tree. Another scripture came to mind about a parable Jesus told:

“He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches (Matthew 13:31-32).”

Our lives begin as a small baby, a small dot. Year by year, God shapes us. Some rings of our life are wide with plenty. Other rings are narrow and lean with drought. Year by year, ring by ring, God works to build our life from that tiny dot. God wants us to be a large tree where others can find support to build their life—if only we let Him.

Then another thought hit me. I placed my hand over the rings and realized my hand spanned the number of rings on the tree. That led me to think of another passage:

Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure (Psalm 39:4-5).”

It was a very sobering thought to look at the span of my life as “a mere handbreadth.” I looked at the span of rings on the tree and wondered if I had made full use of those years to further God’s kingdom. Did I make full use of the talents and resources God provided to me? And what about those ten more rings of life the tree had compared to my age? What would I do for God if he gave me ten more years of life?

I stood a moment and stared at the end cut of that log, thanking God for His love and grace, His willingness to patiently teach me His ways over the years; for giving me eyes to see the lessons He wants to teach me; for the solitude of that moment of reflection.

Turning away and continuing down the trail, I stopped a few moments later and took in the beauty of the forest. There, standing tall, were so many trees towering above me—reminding me of the people of faith in Christ who impacted my life:

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).”

I continued my hike along the trail before me.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. – 1 Corinthians 9:25