Happy Monday all!

When you gaze up at redwoods, it's easy to be awed by their sheer size and age. But the real story is written in their rings - each one representing a year's worth of nourishment and storms weathered.

Each new layer added to the redwood's trunk signifies a year of successful photosynthesis, of drinking in the right balance of water and nutrients from the soil.

Each ring also marks a year of storms weathered - high winds, heavy rains, perhaps even fires that threatened to topple these giants. Yet they stood firm, adding another protective layer to their core.

I remembered being humbled by the size of these beasts. The only way they got that big was persevering the storms and nourishing themselves along the way. Some of them got to be 2,000 years old! The most memorable part for me was when we drove through a tree. Just crazy!

You have a great calling for your life. That calling is accomplished through small acts of faithfulness and persevering the storms. But, without nourishment, you’ll fall. I don’t just mean eating healthy. Our minds and souls need fed as well. They need quality inputs to prevent rot.

A faithful life is built steadily, one challenge and one season of growth at a time. There are no shortcuts to creating something truly meaningful and lasting.

A Dad Joke

What kind of tree fits in the palm of your hand? A palm tree.

Other Ideas

If you believe all things happen for a reason, or believe that God is sovereign, then you should be thankful for suffering. For the Christian, suffering can be viewed as both providential and profitable. I cannot wrap my mind around this, but God allows suffering to happen to both show his glory and help us in our growth.

I hope you have a great week!

God Bless,
Matt Virgin