When I was little, I loved trees. As an 80’s kid, a favorite way to pass time was building a tree fort in my backyard. We had this huge Live Oak way out in the back corner of our backyard with big, strong branches we could lay boards across. Scrap wood was like gold in those days, and we celebrated each find that added another element to our rudimentary “fort.” Oh, to be young again!
Did you know that in the Bible, next to God and people, trees are mentioned more than anything else? Here are just a few examples I found:
There is a tree on the first page of Genesis and on the last page of Revelation.
Adam’s first instructions were to take care of the trees in Eden.
The Bible refers to itself as a Tree of Life.
Jesus died on a wooden cross.
And I love this: three days after Jesus was crucified and buried, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to pay her respects. The tomb was empty, and in her confused anguish, she turned and saw Jesus but mistook Him for a gardener. Talk about bringing things full circle.
With trees being so prominently featured in the Bible, would it surprise you to know that the thought structures in our brains are shaped like trees? According to author and cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf, you can have healthy ones or unhealthy ones, and we are fully in control of how they grow by managing our minds.
God ties it all together for us by using a tree to illustrate optimum physical and mental health in Jeremiah 17:7-8: “...blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They willbe like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
How can we can be like a tree, cultivating a healthy mind and growing into who we were created to be?
We know our water (life) source
What are you relying on to determine your worth and purpose in life?
We cultivate healthy soil
What are you doing on a daily or weekly basis to give yourself the nourishment you need to grow into who you want to become? What changes, if any, need to occur in order to help you achieve your goals in life?
We don’t fear the changing seasons
How are you staying connected to and finding joy in the present moment? (As opposed to staying stuck in the past or fearing the future.)
Life is a journey. In some seasons of life our growth is abundant, and in others it feels like we’re fighting for every inch we gain. The goal is to always keep growing!
Want to learn more about what science and Scripture have to say about our thoughts and learn tools for creating a healthier headspace? Sign up for my April 29 workshop today!