New Article: Getting in Shape

As I was visiting with a buddy who owns a tree care business, a man came up and asked about having some trees removed from his yard and others trimmed up. When my friend asked why he wanted this work done, the man replied that the trees were too big, and he wanted to get them under control. I thought my buddy’s response was interesting.

He said that you cannot control a tree. Trees are genetically predisposed to be a certain shape and size. You can cut the top or the sides off, but the tree will regrow to the height and shape that it was before.

I know that this is true because, a few years ago, a neighbour cut the tops off his evergreen trees. Guess what happened. The trees regrew to the height they were previously.

Even damaged trees show this ability. Years ago, one of the trees in our front yard broke off in a storm. I got the chainsaw, cut up the limbs and then cut the tree off leaving a stump that was about three feet tall. Guess what happened. The stump regrew and now its new branches are as tall as the old trees.

Trees want to be a certain size and shape and when something happens to alter them, they fight to be what they were designed to be. There is no other option. If they are alive, they will try to be what they were meant to be.

Maybe that explains something about us as well. God designed us to be a certain way and when we fight against that design, we have trouble.

Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him”. Our lives are meant to take a shape that reflects that image in us. When we fight against that or ignore it, we have trouble. Our spirits will be restless until we allow that growth to happen.

If you are looking for help in your spiritual growth, you are always welcome at church. Everyone is just trying to get into shape!

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