Aspens

This week I have spent some time surrounded by the majestic beauty of aspens. Each is an amazing specimen on its own. The work of an artisan—all those unblinking charcoal eyes sketched on bleached bark. If you’ve ever been up close to these unique trees, you know the beauty I speak of.

But my favorite thing about aspens is the way they were designed.

A stand of aspens, as they are called, is a kind of colony, all living off a single root system. All those trees I’ve been surrounded by are connected to one another. They are functioning as one organism—distinct trees of varying ages and sizes but still united because of their shared roots.

The connectedness in a stand of aspens leads to both sturdiness and sensitivity.

From what I’ve been told, an aspen planted alone tends to struggle. Alone, it is more susceptible to disease, drastic weather changes, the stress of living in this world. But together, they share nutrients, they protect the vulnerable, they absorb and fight off stressors.

Their surviving and thriving traces back to their design: the many living as one.

Step back and notice the beauty but also the wisdom of our Creator.

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.

PROVERBS 3:19 

The question I find myself asking is: what can we learn from this design?

What happens when a community collaborates, serves, encourages, forgives, listens, champions? When we see the many working and thriving as one, we better notice the genius of God.

We were designed for community. We need one another. Our connection to one another is not just how we survive in this world.  It is how we will prevail. It is how we will glorify and honor Jesus. This is our calling.

It is the most powerful thing we can do in this world, to love as we have been loved.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

JOHN 15:12

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Showing 3 comments
  • JUDY Holloway
    Reply

    Praise God!!

  • Kathleen Davis
    Reply

    And just like the Aspen trees which are truly my favorite trees; I am a widow and we have many in our church that need support and help but we are all floundering trying to find our way as we make new friends because most of our married ones have moved on and we try to move closer to God and His plans. But we lost much, no further retirement, no plans together with our spouse. Life is totally different. Friends change because we no longer are a couple, our lives have gone from married to widow. We aren’t divorced nor are we single. I don’t drive, so rides are needed. We have hard days, and need help with groceries or cleaning or just conversation and some one to pray with us. Yes, the Aspen is a great creation of God’s and it’s a good example of many within the church and what our church needs.

  • Rose Hercher
    Reply

    What a wonderful piece you have written – incredible analogy. You are a gift to us all.

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