I hope that all of you had a great Christmas season. We are in the middle of exams right now and it is amazing how fast the first semester went.
I have been thinking about unity a lot lately. It has been on my mind because unity has been and continues to be a struggle in our world and even in our Chrisitan community. There is so much I want to say about it, but as I was staring at my blank computer screen, I was reminded of a blog I sent 3 years ago. I pulled out part of that blog and then added a current spin to it.
A few weeks ago, my family and I drove an RV out west. We drove about 2,000 miles and saw several national parks. You can’t go more than a few miles out there without being in awe of the beauty of God’s creation. There are gospel connections all over the place. One that stuck out to me was in Arches National Park in Utah. The whole park is stunning, but I was particularly intrigued by the Rosaceae Coleogyne Ramosissima bush. It’s basically a very fancy name for a really cool bush. Because Arches National Park is in a desert, not many plants are able to live there.
- Even though the Rosaceae Coleogyne Ramosissima bush looks like a single plant, it really is many individual plants that grow together to survive in the difficult desert environment. If the plant was alone, the harsh conditions would kill it. However, by working together, the plants not only survive but thrive. In fact, most of these plants are over 100 years old! Imagine surviving 100 years in the desert! Gospel connection #1: We are a team. When we are united as a community in the cross of Jesus Christ, we can survive and thrive in the harshest of cultures.
- The Rosaceae Coleogyne Ramosissima bush looks a little dull most of the year, but it can grow stunning flowers after it rains. As the plant fights for its life battling the heat, wind and dry conditions, it kills the end of its branches so that the rest of the bush can live. It sacrifices itself so the rest of the community of plants can live. Gospel connection #2: Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to live and grow in a community.
Back to the present day. This was 3 years ago, but the message is the same. I would love for us to reflect this bush a lot more. I see this with students and with parents that when things get rough, too many times we run, we split, we fight, and we break apart instead of coming together and resting on the grace and mercy given to us through the cross of Jesus Christ. You are going to hear more about this in the next few weeks. For now, remember the Rosaceae Coleogyne Ramosissima.
- Lance Davids
