He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. Those which are close to water, and those which get most of their water through sprinkling are among the hardest hit. Trees which have a deep root system, formed out of years of adversity and drought are among the most secure. They survive because they have had to struggle before. They reach deeply and boldly for that which gives them nourishment.
Trees seek out the good soil in order to stretch ever higher in their growth.
Maturity and development is not just a uni-directional happening. Trees must be filled with that which strengthens them before they can stretch out into the world. Trees have much to teach us how to live. She originally wrote this reflection in 1998. She and we welcome your comments.