Enormous Devastation

    The devastation that such enormous forces produce is awesome. Modern news coverage with its high-tech reporting equipment and techniques may have given us a basic education in the power of this natural phenomenon, but to live the experience is like receiving your graduate degree.
    One year, shortly after a devastating hurricane hit south Louisiana, I remember walking along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. Although there was major water and wind damage to the beautiful homes along the shore, it was the vegetation that impressed me most.
    Large Date Palm trees were uprooted by the dozens and were scattered along the shoreline, the streets, in yards, and on top of crushed roofs. But not a single Live Oak tree was uprooted. Granted, the Oaks had damage, however it was mostly limited to the loss of leaves and weak limbs. Not a single Oak fell.
    Contemplating this observation, it was evident the root systems of these trees determined their fate. The Palms had simple shallow root systems that were not strong enough to withstand the mighty hurricane winds. The majestic Oaks complex root systems ran deep and could hold their positions.

A Lesson in Life

    This lesson in botany isn't much different from a similar lesson in human life. How we handle the stresses of our sinful life on this earth depends a lot on the depth of our character and the roots of our Christian faith. The deeper are our roots in righteousness, the better able we are to survive the storms that pass over us through life.
    We should grow in faith by furthering our understanding of God and His wonderful plan for humanity. And we should try to learn more about God's wonderful Son, Jesus, and His personal sacrifice for our future. If we do, we will be putting down roots that help us survive most problems that this unfair sinful life will throw at us. Let us strive to imitate the mighty Live Oak and not the Palm. Both are beautiful and necessary to our world's ecosystem, but one is better able to endure when the storm really gets bad.

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