Above the Rest
Palm trees are plentiful in southern California, but until lately I hadn’t realized how symbolic they are. Palm trees are unique in many ways. They have a distinct appearance and they grow much taller than other trees. Even trees that are much older don’t compare to the height of the palms. Palm trees invoke a sense of paradise and peace. That’s why the ancient Jews used palm branches to greet Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.
“The just shall flourish like the palm tree” ~ Psalm 92:13
As Christians we stand out in a crowd—or at least we should—since we are called to be the “light of the world.” It’s not to say that we are better than others, but the way we carry ourselves—our speech, our demeanor, our disposition—should be dramatically different than our non-believing counterparts. There is something special about us. People can see that you have something that they don’t have, and they want it. What we have is God’s grace. That is what makes us special.
Reaching for the Son
No matter which way they are planted, palm trees always grow towards the sun, even if it means that they must twist and contort themselves. A Christian centers his life on Christ, striving always to grow closer to God. Sometimes that means making difficult decisions and resisting things that make us feel good. We bend and twist ourselves as necessary both to avoid sin and resist temptation, while at the same time we reach for God.
Palm trees are lean and slender, shedding excess branches as they grow. The wind still blows on them, but there is less for the wind to grab ahold of. As we grow stronger in our faith, deepening our relationship with God, we shed our desire for worldly things. We become less vulnerable to temptation and center our lives on Christ. That way when the difficult times come we don’t worry about material loss, but rather we maintain our hope in what matters most, our eternal salvation.
Weathering the Storm
Although palm trees may look weak and scrawny, appearances can be deceiving. They sway to and fro in the wind, but they never break as opposed to the dense, bulky trees whose branches snap under pressure. Just like the palm trees, we have the special ability to weather the storm. That special ability is none other than the hand of God working in our lives.
“The valiant one whose steps are guided by the LORD, who will delight in his way, May stumble, but he will never fall, for the LORD holds his hand.” ~ Psalm 37:23-24
Christians don’t have fewer problems, but we do have an all-powerful God to help us get through them. We embrace our struggles, our difficulties, our crosses. We still feel the pain, but we don’t allow our pain to overcome us and we never lose hope. We bend and sway, but we never break!
Inspiration All Around Us
The beauty of Creation is all around us. Being an adult convert, I distinctly remember seeing the world in a new way after I was baptized. I would look at the mountains in awe and still do to this day. People ask “how do you know God exists?” I just look around at the birds and the bees, the mountains and the trees, the sky, the wind, the breeze. There is no doubt in my mind or in my heart that there is a God and just like the palm trees reach towards the sun, I strive to grow closer to the Son, Jesus Christ, with each passing day.