Pinaceae Pinus Strobus

Pinaceae Pinus Strobus. You may know it as a white pine. From within our church in the mountains this one tree predominates the view when looking over the eighteen foot long painting behind the pulpit. It’s what I see when I want to raise my eyes past the distractions of other worshipers. Today that tree drew me closer to Jesus.

The Kingdom of God is an organic one and its story relates beautifully through the scriptures as they talk about seasons. This 60 to 75 year old softwood has seen its seasons, yet to most observers it remains evergreen. We all encounter seasons, even the most righteous amongst us. Like the white pine, we can’t help but display rusty needles when that season comes even if those needles are somewhat obscured by all the green ones.

After a summer’s worth of growth through all types of calamities including draught, flood, hail and wind, the white pine cones begin to expand and pop open, sending seeds spread for stratification (a process that prepares the seeds for germination without which they would be of no use to regenerate) on the ground throughout the winter months. The cones, once they have discharged their fare, fall to the ground and offer another source of organic material to add nutrients to the soil. So, even in death, there occurs a purpose under heaven.

At the beginning of the next season of warmth and moisture, these seeds germinate and create new seedlings, all the more to be used for browse by the deer as they, too, look for new nourishment in the spring of their lives.

The tree teaches me that no matter where I live in relation to God, it is a season that will pass. Not all the calamity of life is random. There is often a God-purpose to it. Even though I think my seed is dying, it springs back in its season to offer fodder to some creature never thought of in the seed’s past life. I look up every Son-day and realize that this pine points the way with its conical shape to a heaven ruled by Jesus. And if one day the tree should fall, there will be countless seeds bearing the fruit necessary so that we never forget which way to look for God.

Warren Johnson

02 Jan 2011