I once took this picture of a funny looking pine tree, that was in a row of plain, “normal” looking trees:

What is your impression of what may have happened?   At the time I saw a dancing tree.  One that didn’t care what it looked like to others, but moved to an influence upon it that was different from all the others.

But still.  All the trees in this picture are standing strong (even the twirly one) with the help of wind.  Yes, wind, and even more so – strong, harsh wind, is one of the factors that helps growing trees and plants become thick, strong, and healthy.

It was 3 years ago that I took this picture, and the memory came up on Facebook.  Incidentally, it was also just today that I read this by T.A. Sparks:

Want to understand why the winds are allowed to blow so fiercely… the storms? To get us away from that natural, easy-going-ness or cheapness, lightness, frivolousness and to make us people of weight. Strength – through testing, through adversity – strength… to endure throughout all ages. There is much which is going to be carried away in the last great testing, and if, therefore, trial and adversity is the only way to deepen us, to put caliber into us, I suppose we must expect more of it as the time shortens.

That’s so good.

One of the reasons I have personally not written in awhile, is that I’ve been “in the weather.”  Not under it, but “in it,” and as a result feeling overwhelmed with a lot happening all at once.  You know – trials within, and trials without.  We all have them.

Sad to say I wasn’t exactly dancing in this storm, though, not this time.   It was one of those “new trials” that I hadn’t been through before, and all I could mostly do was hang on.  But the Love of Christ brought me through it, and as a result there is a new strength and determination to follow after Him harder than ever.

Our Lover is so incredibly wise, to always put Love in the wind.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be
mature and complete, and not lacking anything.
– James 1:2-4