April 11, 2012

April 11, 2012

This morning we went for a walk to the arbolito. It is a tree that is living in the ocean and we were told that there are only 4 like it in the world. It is rooted in some rocks that are under water at high tide and out of the water at low. Actually some around here call it the “Jesus Tree”. Evidently during Semana Santa, people come from all over to see the tree and have made it into an icon. But what mostly happens is people camp around the area and get drunk. When we had been told that I thought, that is exactly what happens with idolatry, it is turned into an orgy and has nothing to do with God.

As I was walking down the path wondering what we would see at the end I thought about how I would view the tree. I knew I was not making a pilgrimage to a holy spot, to come and say some special prayers in hopes that God would answer me because of where I was. I was going to see a tree that was completely out of what would have been its natural environment. This tree was meant to grow at the edge of the ocean, like in a mangrove swamp, not out away from the shore.

It struck me; God is to be glorified here. He can make anything grow anywhere He wants it to. And that does not just apply to trees. He can take you or me and put us into a situation that is completely foreign to us; and in that place He can cause us to thrive. Why? Because He is our source; He is the One that nourishes us and protects us from the elements. It is in Him, that I live and breathe and have my being. As long as I am planted where He wants me, I will continue to grow and mature and glorify His name. The trouble only comes when I decide I do not like where God has planted me; when I am not content with His plan for my life and try to plant myself someplace I think I would like better.

In this way I need to be like arbolito and flourish where I have been planted. What does arbolito do? It does tree things. It sends its roots down, it spreads its branches and it has leaves. It is a tree! It offers a perch for the birds, the insects crawl on it, and weary walkers can take a moment and enjoy its shade. And most importantly it glorifies God by being what He has called it to be, nothing more and certainly nothing less.

Some of us may be called to be planted by ourselves like arbolito, but mostly we are called to be planted in the midst of others. Whichever God has called you to do, make sure that you are where He has planted you and that you are doing those things He has called you to do in that place. True joy can only come when we are fulfilling our true purpose and not trying to live someplace else.