When I visited Sequoia National Park I was amazed by the height and majesty of these ancient trees. My affinity for these giants grew as I learned more about their surthrival.
Giant Sequoias are protected from forest fire damage by high tannins, thick spongy bark and canopies way above the ground. Like us, they were designed for resilience. They store up water by letting go of older needles. We need to let go of things that no longer serve us. They are held firm by roots that are not deep but instead intertwine with sister trees for support. We need the support of those around us to surthrive.
Not only are they designed to survive forest fires, flames are critical to their reproduction and very existence. Fire actually aids the Sequoia grove by clearing out underbrush, giving these tall trees added nutrition. We need to clear out the unnecessary distractions in our lives that are sucking needed nutrients. More importantly, the heat causes the tree to release its tiny pinecones (see photos below), which dwell high in the treetops. These opened cones fall to the ground, and saplings sprout from the rich, ashy soil. Beauty from ashes. Death to life.
Many if not most of these old trees show large, black scars from the fires. If flames penetrate the spongy bark and scar the living tissue, Giant Sequoias have the unique ability to heal around the scar through new growth. Grief scars us. We don't come out of our mourning unscathed, but we have the ability to heal and surthrive.
As I learned of the Giant Sequoia’s resilience and gazed on their scars, I felt a deep affinity to these 1,000-year-old trees. I, too, have been through the flames of grief and have the scars to prove it. However, I have not only survived these difficulties; I have surthrived through the principles that God gave me.
Be a tree. Surthrive.
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