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I’ve written a couple of times about the old landscaper who took care of my home in Nashville. He loved what he did. He was like my friend who is a Master Gardener. A bed of rich, black soil is her happy place. She loves browsing through gardening books, nurseries, and hot houses. Her yard reflects it, too. She does not consider time spent there as labor, but pleasure. I am very happy for her.

The old landscaper was talking about one of the trees in my front yard. I was concerned because it seemed frail and it was blown mercilessly by every wind that came. He was so gracious and generous. He explained that stress and tension were exactly what a young tree needs, and without them they do not become strong. The bends and stresses cause the wood to naturally grow thicker and stronger. When tossed back and forth, the roots go deeper, as the movement forces them to widen and “go deep”.

It was a mouthful back then, and it is the same today.

Another friend who is a physical therapist and who had the privilege to meet Dr. Paul Brand in her early years, introduced me to strength or “resistance” training. In short, you work your muscles against an outside force in order to strengthen them. What actually happens is that the resistance tears the muscle fibers and they grow back thicker and stronger. It tears them in order to strengthen and stabliize them.

I just happened to be reading Philippians this morning, where the Apostle Paul both challenges and encourages the church:

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then . . . I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together . . . For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for him . . .” Ph 1:27-29

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing . . . Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Ph 2:14-16

“Not that I have already obtained all this . . . but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me . . . Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize . . .”
Ph 3:12

It is the same now as then. Ours is a race, a battle, a testimony of standing, striving, holding, suffering, straining, and pressing. It is not for the faint of heart, and it can be unpleasant.

In 2003 we lived in Virginia, and endured hurricane Isabel one October night. The following morning I feared what we would see when we walked outdoors. Much to my surprise, everything was calm. I wrote then, ‘We lost two trees – a beautiful old oak which turned out to be rotten inside and a smaller, younger maple which fell because it stood too close to the rotten oak (I know. There’s a sermon there.) Here’s the good part: the towering oaks and hickories and maples and sycamores just stood there that morning – wet and slightly bare, but calm and stoic – as though nothing unusual had happened. Amid fallen branches, mounds of leaves and air that seemed tactile, those old characters had seen it all before. There would be casualties, but there would be survivors, too.’

Paul was reminding the church that ours is a struggle, because the goal for us is to become stronger in Christ. It is critical that we not only survive, but that we thrive! Just as trees are swayed and branches weighted, we must endure the resistance that assures our strengthening.; we must have faith that looks increasingly upward rather than toward the here and now.

Be strengthened today. Give thanks for the winds of resistance, knowing that they are part of God’s plan to continually bring purpose to your life and to assure that you “go deep”.

Many blessings to you today…