“Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth…” Matthew 13:5
Good Soil
For many years we’ve driven past the tree. My husband noticed it first…a tiny pine tree growing out of a crack in the center of a large boulder.
As we’ve watched the tree growing over the years, we’ve wondered how it has survived. The boulder’s crack seems to stop several feet above the soil line, so what are the roots growing in? We’ve wondered if its roots would be strong enough to eventually break the rock into two pieces. We’ve wondered how the seed ended up there with very few other trees in the area. We’ve wondered if its roots were strong enough and deep enough to support it against the strong winds and winter snowstorms common to the area. Yet that little tree has grown to be a tall, hardy-looking tree.
Until this year.
This year the tree looks different. Its top has no needles, the middle branches look dry, and only a few green needles are apparent on its lower branches.
As my husband and I remarked about the changes to the tree, the Lord reminded us of the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) and that even if there might be a bit of good soil on the rocky ground there isn’t enough to sustain life. He used the tree to remind us to make sure our roots are anchored deeply in His good soil.
Lord, thank You for using the things on earth to remind us of our need for You. Anchor our roots deeply in Your life-sustaining good soil and grow us strong and hardy in You. Amen.