Pines in the Wasteland
The Why Behind the Title
A peek preview into the book…
Have you ever felt the adrenaline rush of hiking some of Earth’s finest forests? If not, you have likely pulled off at a scenic overlook on a mountain pass. For me, it’s all about the hike; the higher, the better. Even though I have two artificial hips, I still push my body to its limits. The view is always worth the sore muscles.
A rigorous hike always leaves me thirsty. It’s my brain’s way of saying, “You are getting dehydrated. It’s time to pull out your canteen and drink some water.” God created us to crave what we need.
Isaiah 41:17 begins, the poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues fail for thirst. We know we need water, but do we know the source of living water? God says he hears. He won’t forsake us. He will open rivers in desolate heights and fill the wilderness and dry land with pools and springs of water (verses 17-18).
For believers, this is a well-known concept, but there’s so much more. Verses 19-21 describe how God planted all these different species of trees for our needs and enjoyment. In fact, he created more than seventy thousand types of trees.
I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia trees,
The myrtle and the oil tree.
I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine,
And the box tree together,
That they may see and know,
And consider and understand together,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
And the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Again, God created the trees. He wants us to know that He has designed them for us. But, to a tree-lover, I looked at the list of species with keen interest. None of these trees grow together naturally. The cedar thrives in deep rainy forests in soil rich in decaying matter called humus. On the other hand, the acacia prefers full sun and can tolerate the poorest of soils. Each tree has its own unique area where it will grow to its maximum potential.
That got me thinking. If God fashioned each tree species for a specific place in His creation, might we be created for a specific place of ministry as well? Perhaps we should be flourishing where He planted us, too.
Finally, He planted them together, all kinds of trees. Just recently, forest rangers have discovered the benefits of mixed-species plantings. Each tree in a biodiverse woodland has something to assist its nearby neighbors. A tall cedar, for example, might provide the shade a tender pine sapling needs for a healthy start. This new model of planting trees is being used all over Europe. Isn’t this the way God intends us to live?
So, my memoir title, Pines in the Wasteland, is a true story of experiencing God’s faithfulness. It is my forty-year journey of learning to depend on His provision. It is where I learned to grow and flourish, no matter my circumstances. Last of all, I have learned that being a part of an encouraging group of believers has emboldened me to walk in His power and share my hope with others.
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