Build a Bench or Plant a Tree
I’ve always loved trees. There’s just something about them. They feel almost eternal to me. I know they’re not. I know they do eventually die but did you know that many of them live hundreds of years? Many trees are seen and enjoyed by multiple generations. Shortly after I married Danielle, I remember seeing my father in law out back planting some small cherry and walnut trees. I walked out to say Hi and asked.. Are you going to sell these in like 15 years or what? How long does this investment take? He said, Well, they’re not for me. They’re for you kids and the grandkids. By the time me and JoAnne are gone, these trees could be sold to help support you guys.
That little conversation stuck with me and I hope it sticks with you as well. I realized lately why that conversation resonated with me so much. It touched on values that my wife and I share, values that I know were passed down to me by my parents, my wife’s parents and spiritual parents like David and Shayne Harnett. They all would often speak about the blessing that God has given them and how they were overjoyed to pass down those blessings. Short conversations I had with Dr Harnett in my early 20’s taught me to think long-term and how to steward what God has given me, my kids, my money, everything.
I remember a dream I had when I was around 25 years old. It was incredibly vivid and I even wrote it down in the journal next to my bed that morning. I felt it was a “God-dream” for some reason and I definitely don’t have many of those so so I wrote it down and wondered if I should write a book where I share the concept of the dream. Here I am, 13 years later, finally writing a devotion about it - maybe a book will come about from this one day too. We’ll see.
In the dream, I saw a son walking hand in hand with his dad as they approached a singular small tree in a large field. The tree was about 5’ tall and didn’t have any fruit on it’s branches yet. The son said “Dad, I want a bench to sit on. I brought my saw. Let’s cut down this tree and build a bench.” As the son took his saw to the base of the tree, the father placed his hand on the boy’s hand and stopped him. “Son, you don’t need a bench right now. If you’ll just wait a while, this tree will grow big and strong. You’ll be able to cut just one branch off of this tree and with that one branch, you can build a bench.”
“What about the rest of the tree?” The boy asked. His dad replied, “It’s going to bear fruit and in each piece of fruit there are eight seeds! Each seed can be planted and it will become a new tree!” As the dad continued, he reached his hand in his pocket and pulled out a little ziplock bag full of seeds. “Son, you brought a saw but I brought some seeds. I want us to find some good spots back here to plant these seeds and years from now, you’ll look out and have plenty of trees. Not only will you be able to cut off a branch, you’ll see birds coming to rest in these branches of all of these trees! Some trees will be big. Some will be medium and some trees will be small. But if you cut this one little tree down today, you’ll lose an entire future orchard. Now, what would you like to do? Build a bench or plant a tree?”
The son raise his eyebrows in excitement … Let’s plant a tree!
I never connected that dream I had to the conversation I had with Bob that day a few years later. I think many Christians want to build a bench instead of plant a tree. Our Father God calls us to a life of sacrifice, a life of meaningfulness, a life of love and generosity. Yes, there’s time to rest and we all need a bench sometimes. But I wonder how many Christians are still living with a me-first mentality? It’s a “build a bench” mindset. I wonder how many Jesus-followers enter their church and still think “What’s here for me today?” I wonder how many enter their job and think “I’m going to give it the minimal effort because after all, I’m just getting a paycheck” I wonder how many Christians are stewing over new tax codes that affect the quality of their street but have never considered inviting their neighbors who live on that same street over for dinner? If you entered work instead praying for a certain coworker and maybe paying for their lunch, asking great questions, how much different life would be? If you invited those neighbors over many times over the years, hoping to make an impact on them for Christ, how different life would be. It’s like we have a choice, build a bench or plant tree.
When you’re a new Christian, this is understandable as it takes time for the Holy Spirit to mature us. Sanctification is a process and learning to put our needs aside to serve others is an attribute that we grow in as “Christ is formed in us” to use the words of the Apostle Paul. But many Christians have been following Jesus for 10 years and are still attending church looking to be served. They go to work, ready to complain instead of contribute. Sometimes we are are like that little boy, aren’t we? We want a bench - just somewhere to sit. In the moment, it does seem appealing because of the demands of our work and life. I know I often want a bench - especially with 5 kids! The truth is though, the joy is in the orchard. The joy comes in looking out and seeing lives touched and families strengthened by a diligent effort to love and serve them over time. Orchards take time. Significance takes time.
I have a neighbor named Jeremy that stops over often. We talked last night actually. We talk life and theology and God’s been doing such a deep work in him in the last year. It’s beautiful to see. It’s Spring time and I get it; you have projects. I do too! Projects can take a couple weekends and it feels good to get them done, but in the end that project might just be a “bench” if you will. People, on the other hand, take years. It takes years to truly be significant in the life of another person. Discipleship is planting a tree. It’s taking the time, pruning the tree, watering the tree in drought seasons, etc.
So today I’m inviting you into a life that’s lived with different perspective. Who are you impacting and how intentional are you in doing so? For me, one of the best ways to have those conversations is to these the following phrases:
How are you doing - how are you really doing? Because if there’s something I can pray with you about, I’d love to do that.
What’s God been teaching you lately?
Can I share what God’s been teaching me lately? I was reading in …
How is ___ Ask specific question about the thing they told you last time - that thing you prayed with them about.
These questions work for your kids, grandkids, neighbors, etc. Asking that first question sometimes evokes a deeper response that moves the conversation past the shallow waters of mundane “weather” talk and into one of meaning and depth.
Let me state it plainly. The tree represents the thing(s) you will choose to do that may seem small but could bring in a great reward years from now - not for you, but for your children. This could be financial decisions - choosing to save and invest a portion of all your income instead of simply spending what comes in. This could be a choice to invite a co-worker over often or a neighbor. This could be a choice to make a positive impact by mentoring a teen once a month that lives in the TCCS housing facility. This could mean fostering. This could mean picking up your grandkids once a week to both give your kids a break and make a meaningful impact on your grandkids. It always sad to see when grandparents miss this brief opportunity. I’m inviting you into a “plant a tree” mentality; a life that plays “the long game” if you will.
I wonder if you’d begin to ask God “What is the tree I can plant today that will outlive me? What is it, Lord, that you want me to start doing today that will benefit future generations? Who is it Lord, that I can impact for Your Kingdom?” Lastly, “Lord, how can I use my finances differently so I’m not just building a bench for me, but instead planting a tree for others to see Your goodness?”
So let’s do it! Put down the saw, forget the bench. Let’s plant a tree.