‘Blessed are the ones… like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.’
From Psalm 1

Blessed are the treelike…
Blessed are the treelike…

Like trees we have roots, trunks, branches, leaves, flowers and fruit

Roots

Drawing on strength and inspiration from God, family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, we are nourished, sustained and blessed. Intentional time to care for ourselves and nurture these relationships, and be equipped, encouraged, strengthened and enthused1 by them, is key to succeeding in our plans and projects.

Trunks

The trunk represents personal development – taking time to develop skills and hone abilities. Taking time to ‘sharpen the saw’ as Steven Covey would say.

Branches

The branches are the ways we connect with the world and its people – sharing our gifts, our art, our practice. ‘We make a difference in the world when we seek to make a difference – not because it’s easy but because it matters. This is all part of the practice’2

Leaves, Flowers and Fruit

and the leaves, flowers and fruit are the outcomes… some which we didn’t anticipate at the beginning… some functional, some simply beautiful and some to nourish others…

‘Blessed are the ones… like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.’

  1. Isn’t ‘Enthused’ a wonderful word – from the Greek ‘en Theos’ – literally ‘in God’
  2. The Practice, Seth Godin, Chapter 42

Leave a Comment