Like a good little nerd, I was reading the cover story in the October issue of National Geographic magazine. The article, simply entitled Redwoods: Super Trees, speaks about the value and beauty of redwood trees, which have the potential to be the tallest trees on earth. Although the article addresses issues such as saving the trees and other conservation efforts, the author also writes about a unique process in the forest between the older trees and the second generation trees called release. The writer, Joel K. Bourne, Jr., describes this phenomenon for the reader by saying, “With their high tolerance for shade and ability to sprout, some redwoods can sit almost dormant in the shade of their elders for decades. Yet as soon as a dominant tree falls or is cut down, breaking the canopy and allowing new light to enter the forest, the suppressed redwood springs up with new growth” (October 2009 issue, p. 38).

As soon as I read this statement I paused and re-read it again; it was one of those moments in which I felt as if God was providing a spiritual application to an earthly illustration. In my lifetime I have seen many “elders” and “dominant” leaders pass off the scene which has opened up the forest to many of the “suppressed” (I don’t mean this in a negative way) leaders. For many years, some of you have stood strong in the shadow of an elder who provided shade and protection, but now it is time for you to step into the light and “spring up with new growth.”

I believe Paul wrote some similar advice to those “suppressed” leaders who were getting ready to assume the place of their elders, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you (1 Timothy 4:12-16, NLT).

Are you ready to step into the light?

Today I went to the doctor’s office to have some blood work done. I arrived about 7:20am on what was a cold, snowy morning. After finishing, I jogged (it was too cold to walk) back out to my car and began backing out of my parking space when something moving in the car beside me caught my eye. I looked a little closer into the slightly tinted windows of the old, beat up jeep beside me. At first I thought it was a person in the backseat moving around, but upon further examination I realized it was a huge dog. It was so big that it may have actually been a small pony. This dog was also old just like the jeep it was sitting in. What in the world was a huge, old dog/pony doing sitting by itself in backseat of a freezing car? Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not an extreme animal lover – the only rides my dog ever gets in the car are when she is going to the veterinarian, going to the groomer to get her stinky body cleaned, or when she is going to the kennel. Marley (my nine-year old German shepherd) gets no Sunday afternoon rides, no trips to PetSmart to smell other dogs’…well, you know what, and she certainly does not accompany me to the doctor just to sit in the car!There was also another thing that caught my attention about this dog – it was not sitting in the seat the proper way. Instead of facing the front (like a human being), the dog was completely turned around facing the back window of the car awaiting his owner to reappear. Why is it that you never see dogs sitting normally in the seat of a car? Mostly, it is because they have arranged themselves to see when their master is returning from being away instead of being surprised by his arrival. Most people could learn a valuable spiritual lesson from this dog.Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy – 1 Peter 1:13-16