Some of our church members might have seen or heard about the trees in the Red Wood National and State Park in California, USA. They are huge, and one of the tallest trees in the park. Some trees have big tunnels, through which two cars are able to pass. Twenty adults could surround a tree with hand-in-hands. After many scholars had researched how those trees could have survived for so long a time, they discovered that the roots of the group of trees were connected and were dependent on each other. This could be the reason that they have survived in spite of heavy winds and wildfires. In addition, the researchers also found that the trees, which were not connected with the group, died. This unity among the trees could be applied to our church. To survive in this world, our church members must unite in Christ.  

A couple of times lately there have been police officers on our road checking drivers’ licenses. The license is our permit, our authority to drive a motor vehicle. In a sense they are questioning our authority to drive and if we can’t produce our licence there are consequences. How do you respond when your authority to drive, to work or to be in certain places is challenged? Are you likely to be defensive, deflect the question, go on the offensive or plead ignorance?

Why, when you are longing for something time drags and when you are really enjoying something time flies by? We know the refrain of children longing to be at the beach, but stuck in traffic in the car – Are we there yet? How much longer? As Christians go through troubles, we ask similar questions and in the Psalms we find the refrain, How long?