planted by the stream
My backyard. A respite. Seated under the shade of the umbrella, I love to write and work at the refurbished, iron and glass, hand-me-down table that overlooks a modest, lush green space enclosed within the confines of an unstained picket fence. I can usually ignore the fact that my table needs another refurbishing as I enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.
This time of year is my favorite, minus the dreadful pollen. The daffodil, dogwood, and cherry tree blossoms have already come and gone, hostas are beginning their sprawl, zinnia seedlings are sprouting, hydrangeas prepare to showcase their first blooms, and newly planted herbs provide accents to our meals. Two stunning river birches provide an expansive canopy over much of the yard, shading the 13 year-old wooden swing set that might occasionally be found to have a teenager or two occupying it as their comrades balance on the slackline strung between the birches or swing on the nearby rope ladder. Soon they will be back to their pickup basketball game, attempting to dunk, but only after they crank the goal down to 8 ½ feet.
I have loved this yard for 14 years, and those river birches have held a special place in my heart from the beginning. They shaded my babies as they played and granted a gathering place for other moms and their children. They provide a safe haven for squirrels and birds, and offer a touch of privacy and beauty in our bustling neighborhood. I was once told that when our subdivision was established in the late 80s, the river birch was a favorite of the trees planted. They could be found all over the place, in easements, yards and common spaces, but because of their susceptibility to ice and wind, most of them have not survived the decades. Kentucky seasons can be quite varied, marked by both the occasional ice storm and windstorm or tornado. We have been the victims of weeks-long power outages as a result, and river birches are often victims themselves. When I learned how blessed we were to still have two of the original river birches growing in our backyard, my appreciation for them was magnified.
Why are ours so lucky to survive the elements? All you have to do is gaze out the windows of our breakfast nook during a heavy rainstorm, and you will discover the answer. The surrounding yards drain through a planned path that is only noticeable during these downpours because the green grass is transformed into a transient fast-flowing torrent of water. My river birches are literally planted by a stream of water. They are lusciously verdant, and their strength is particularly noticeable in their thick trunks, each of which divides at the base into four more proliferating trunks, which allow the canopy to encompass a vast space.
In the opening to the book of Psalms, the righteous man who loves the Word of God is compared to “a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Ps. 1:3). Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah writes, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit” (Jer. 17:7-8).
I wrote about Romans 8:13 in the last post, discussing the choice we have to live by the Spirit. As I expand upon this thought, I would like to propose that the Lord also gives us the choice as to where we are planted. He does not force His words down our throats, but he does invite us to drink from the streams of life. Jesus offers the living water that our souls desperately crave but often set aside as we reach instead for the temporary nourishment the world offers through pleasure and materialism.
When we plant ourselves far from the streams of life, we attempt to sate our thirst with the sugar-laden sodas, caffeine-hyped energy drinks or mind-numbing alcoholic beverages of our world. We find ourselves planted near rivers of scrolling, dopamine-releasing social media posts, and sensationalist newsfeeds. We give ourselves over to our sexual desires and every path that leads to tempory pleasure, be it the purchasing power of online shopping, the thrill of the chase of a new love interest, the satisfaction felt in an entire carton of ice cream, or the sensuality found in the erotic chapters of the latest New York Times best-selling novel. We gossip and slander and give ourselves over to temptation again and again.
In the moment, these streams offer the illusion of satisfaction, a quick taste of sweetness, a jolt of excitement or an escape from reality, but they are imposters of the true source of life. We quickly find that a tree not planted by water will fail to produce life-giving fruit because it is not getting the nourishment it was designed to receive. It will suffer from disease and infestation and be susceptible to drought. Eventually it will wither and die. So too with the human soul. We were created to tap into the streams of life, not to chase the empty pleasures of the world.
That does not mean we forego pleasure when we plant ourselves in the Word of the Lord and we place our trust in Him! Rather, we are freed from the constraints of sin and more capable of experiencing the most beautiful of pleasures as we experience the earth in the way in which God intended—eyes open to the glory around, awestruck by the beauty, alive to every sight, sound and taste, reveling in the artistry and joy, keenly aware of God’s love. By leaning into the Holy Spirit and listening to His promptings, we can forego sin and choose the path that leads to life. The Lord knows we will not be perfect, but He provides His Word to help us keep striving “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).
This is not a license to sin, but rather an encouragement to fight the good fight. Paul says in 1 Tim. 6:11-12, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Sisters and brothers, I encourage you to plant yourselves near the streams of living water. Experience the abundance, life, joy and security the Lord has to offer. Even in times of drought and suffering, His presence will be with you, and you will be able to endure. As for me, when I gaze upon my river birches, I am reminded of God’s goodness. When dry spells threaten and the leaves yellow and fall, I know that because their roots are deeply grounded, they will survive. In the same way, I will survive the trials of this world because my own roots draw upon the nourishment provided by the Lord Himself. I am encouraged by the words of Isaiah in 40:31, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
The beautiful expanse of my river birches as they reach to the sky.