Those Who Sway,
Those Who Stand Strong
The morning (May 30, 2004) here in central Mississippi was rather windy. On the way to church I noticed that the wind was tossing the trees around, a sight that always fascinates me. I don’t talk on a cell phone while driving—I watch the trees in the wind (which is probably even more dangerous!).
Anyway, as I drove today, I watched the trees which lined the highway just up ahead. It was amazing how the different trees reacted to the wind. In one spot, a tree was waving violently, as if a giant hand was shaking it back and forth, trying to pull it out of the ground. The trees which surrounded it were hardly moving at all. What was the difference?
As I drove past, I slowed down to watch. The trees which remained stable and were not as affected by the wind were hardwoods, and were therefore more sturdy. I did not know which kind of tree was the one which was being tossed around by the wind, but it was of the type that springs up and grows relatively quickly.
It was a parable right before my eyes. When the winds of adversity blow in our lives, are we like the trees that sway, being tossed around out of control? Or are we like the hardwoods, standing straight and strong, with the winds having little affect on us?
--Rocky Henriques, www.timothyreport.com
(c) 2004 by Rocky Henriques. All rights reserved. Contact
