2013 The Year of the Tree

I grew up around evergreen trees. I loved their size, texture, smell—even the sticky pitch was fun. As a kid, I’d walk to the nearby forest and spend hours building forts out of fallen limbs. Low branches were used as a boost to climb as high as I dared.

During storms, the winds would whip the treetops and I’d watch them sway back and forth. The rains would pelt them relentlessly too. In the heaviest snow, sometimes a limb would break after being bowed to the limit, but most often the snow would just tumble down in shimmering clusters. What I couldn’t see were the tree roots. Reaching far beneath the topsoil, they were anchored securely deep down.

None of us knows what the New Year will bring—so we need to be like trees. Deeper roots will keep us grounded when the storms arise. Those roots will give us sustenance to remain strong for the year ahead. I hope to deepen my family roots, my friend roots, and my faith roots. 

We can expect some problems in 2013. Yet we don’t have to face them alone. Let’s be there for one another. There's Someone else we'll need too. But God will never force his way into our lives. He waits for an invitation to come in. Once inside, He helps us get rooted. And when Jesus anchors our roots we know they'll hold tight through anything life brings our way.

Happy New Year—and may our roots go deeper.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33