Is It Your Turn Yet?

Is It Your Turn Yet?

December 2008

"Lessons of a Palm Tree"

Amazingly, it’s The Christmas Season and the positive, possibly, of having a time in which there is uncertainty in our lives and in our world, is that it might allow us to experience the true magic of this season of renewal and joy without as much commercialism.

Last week, I had a short getaway sharing in the magical experience of Disney with our grandchildren and spending some time with Beth. During the week, I saw a structure in nature which truly impressed me on how nature can teach us so much about tenacity and life in the face of overwhelming obstacles. If we pay attention to nature, it teaches those things over and over every day. But this lesson was of a palm tree that had obviously been blown over flat in a hurricane a few years ago. The roots of the tree were pulled up at its base with a few still clinging to the earth. The trunk was as flat as could be with dirt mounding around it and extended out over 15 feet. Obviously, this tree had met its match with the extreme forces of wind, but…an amazing change happened - 15 feet from the base of the trunk. Rather than to succomb for all time to being blown down, the tree trunk started growing on an exact 90° angle and reached tall and straight toward the sunny sky and continued growing 20 feet from the ground. The rejuvenated palm tree had a beautiful, perfectly formed top with coconuts growing from the center.

Just like the time of Christ’s birth, we are in uncertain and potentially difficult times, but I hope this Christmas season can teach us about always looking up and never giving up.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Have a very blessed Christmas.

Article written by: Dr. Daniel L. Steinke