I heard a comedian make a really profound comment last night. It made a lot of sense, yet it hurts. Friendships are like parts of trees. At the root of any tree are it's roots. They actually nourish and give life to the tree. So Jesus, our family, and closest friends, consist of the roots in our lives.
Then there is the trunk of the tree that would be who we are and our significant other. We generally grow together, or at least that's the goal.
As the trunk strengthens and grows the branches of friendship should develop. I would caution, this doesn't mean you have to give up your friendships from your past. If another person strengthens, loves and nourishes you, don't give them up. If your partner doesn't understand, then you'll have to decide whether it's best to prune that branch. Just remember deep pruning into friendships, can cause the whole tree to die.
Then there are the leaves. They pop out in the Spring and flourish for a season, only to die and blow away in the fall. I have a hard time with these kinds of friendships. I don't like to spend, or share myself for a fake flourishing frenzy. Maybe I'd be more like a Hemlock tree. Just a slow steady grower, needing lots of water, and the shade of other trees to survive. I'd rather have the constant growth that stays for years.
For those of you leafy trees, try to remember not all of us shed in the fall. We have feelings that run deep. But whether you're an oak, cedar or one of the many other trees in the forest of life, we all need to get the main nourishment from Jesus.
See Philippians 4:10-23
"And my God shall meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
... "If God is for us who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 (NIV)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble, or hardship or persecution, or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" Romans 8:35 (NIV)
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
Christ Jesus, should make friendships stronger and deeper by far than mere earthly friendships. Where are your friendships grounded? (The picture above is Michael and Heidi raking leaves at Grandpa Mason's house a long time ago.)
