Tip of My Iceberg

The cousin community is always an enjoyable experience. When they were here recently, we did a few field trips to entertain them and the adults, which didn’t require money or a long car ride. Just a willingness to be outside and explore.

Tree climbing has been a favored activity since I was a kid. My grandmother had a particularly grand tree for climbing at her home in Bowie, Texas, and it was a joy and challenge for us kids to get up there because the beginning branches were so high.

Knowing the propensity of my grands to climb, we visited a historic park near our home that was built in 1837 as a supply depot for the Second Seminole War. It’s now home to a few replica buildings with a collection of items from that time–and a plethora of climbing trees.

The first of the grands were cautious as they moved upward and further out onto the branches, but soon, many of them were scampering among the leaves like a troop of chimpanzees. They dared each other to go higher, and a few were brave enough to try. Gratefully, no one fell out. I’ve had my share of falling out of trees.

Trees aren’t just great for climbing. Sometimes, they’re representative of a bigger picture. What’s fascinating is that, in the Bible, other than God and people, trees are mentioned more than any other living thing.

In the book of Genesis, God gives Adam and Eve the freedom to eat from all the trees in the garden but one. “But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden–except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you are sure to die.’” Genesis 2:16-17.

This wasn’t a test or a temptation. God put the tree there to provide people the opportunity to choose to love and obey him. If there are no choices, there can’t be love. By setting parameters for behavior, people were allowed to pick who they’d listen to and who would be the influence in their lives.

Then and now people choose independence from God.

Jesus also referred to the kingdom of heaven as a magnificent tree. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13;31-32.

People who choose to obey God are likened to thriving trees. “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1:3.

Jesus Himself ended His earthly existence on a cross, which was referred to at the time as a tree. “We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and Jerusalem, and yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.” Acts 10:39.

These metaphors populate the Bible for a reason–the God of all nature, of all creation, has a deep love for trees, for they reflect the greater picture of His plan and purpose for us–to thrive and grow.

The kids didn’t care about metaphors or the various pictures of trees in Scripture. They wanted to climb them.

Trees are for more than climbing.

They’re visual aids for God’s bigger picture.