Same Tree, Different Nuts

June 19, 2019

Just the other day, Amy and I were out walking when we ran across a whopping pine tree. The tree caught my attention because of its immensity, but that’s not the only reason. There were pine cones sprawled across the ground. The ones that are normally found at the foot of a pine tree. The ones that add a charming woodland touch around any home at Christmas time. As I looked up the tree, I saw some more of the same scaled, brown cones that mimicked the ones lying on the ground but had yet to fall off the tree. Then I noticed that there were other cones on the tree. But these were different. I had never seen these kind used as decorative ornaments around a house at Christmas or any other season. They had the same scales but they had not separated like the ones on the ground or the other ones on the tree. And they were green not brown! They were new pine cones and were the same but different than the full-grown ones that had already fallen to the ground. The same pine tree accommodated both mature and immature pine cones at the same time.

That’s a perfect representation of the church. It’s the same church that hosts both mature and immature members at the same time! Those that have been on the journey for a while and those that are new to the path are intended to live and grow together as part of the same family.

I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years, been in the church longer than that, and a preacher for 15 years and I have to say that’s not what I have always observed. Instead, here are some observations I’ve seen:

From those who are farther along in their growth…

I find it peculiar that we correlate being around the church for a long time with maturity. Growing old and growing up are not the same thing. If I understand this correctly, it takes a female pine cone up to two years to reach full maturity while the male pine cone only takes months to reach full maturity (contrary to human nature, I know). Each person matures in God’s time. Yet, rather than cheering on each baby step, we tend to impose artificial deadlines on assumed milestones. Instead of celebrating other’s accomplishments, we tend to boast about our own. Rather than labor to meet the needs of others, we hustle to have our own met. We should be leading by example and witness, instead we disparage by our judgment and criticism. Those on the tree who are farther along should be encouraging and building up those who are not as far along, but that doesn’t always happen.

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll

all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (The Message)

From those who are in the beginning of the journey…

All fruit ripens. Some sooner and some later. But it all matures. It’s an irreversible law of creation. But sometimes we like to settle in and get comfortable. We get cozy sitting on the branch, but not absorbing all that it has to give us. We refuse to stretch ourselves in places where God can speak to us. We reject wisdom and guidance. And we get stuck. We can’t stay in the same place forever. We have a saying at Aldersgate Church: “It’s okay to not be okay but it’s not okay to stay that way.” There’s room for our huts, habits and hang-ups, but we can’t continue to live there. We must push on toward maturity.

So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. –Hebrews 6:1 (The Message)

Ryan Smallwood

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