Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Normally I only think of this cliche in terms of "short-lived" things -- bugs, flowers, etc. But sometimes the reality of our finiteness hits me in unexpected ways.

Take this beautiful tree, for instance.



This picture was taken in the spring of 2010 just outside my office building. For those that do not already know, Michael and I both work at the same company, same building. So we commute to work together, eat lunch together most days, and occasionally see one another throughout the day. For some couples, that would not be a fun-sounding scenario, but for us, we love it.

So two years later, in the spring of 2012, Michael and I were eating lunch together in his office on the third floor that overlooks this field and tree. We had been getting a lot of wind that day in our area. As we were sitting there watching an episode of some show on Hulu, I happened to look over, out the window, and at this tree -- and I see it falling down completely. Apparently the wind was too much for it, and this beautiful tree was completely uprooted.





This made me think about how this could have been possible for this majestic tree. It was green, so it looked alive. But it appears that its roots were not substantial enough to withstand the wind when it came. See the parallel yet?

What does your root system look like? You can be as "green and alive looking" as you want - all for show - but if you don't have your roots planted in something stronger than yourself, you will one day come tumbling down like this tree when faced with obstacles.

I have certainly noticed this trend in myself. I have found that when I stop turning to God in prayer and spending time with Him by reading His Word, I feel weaker and more vulnerable to the enemy's snares, lies, and life's storms. My struggle with infertility becomes harder and more burdensome when I try to face it on my own.

But when I focus on growing my roots, letting them stretch out as far as possible away from myself, and implant in the heavenly kingdom, I feel God's strength holding me upright, ready to face any challenge that comes my way. I feel a renewed sense of peace and hope that one day I will be holding my children, looking back on this chapter of my life with a sense of gratitude and accomplishment.

Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.