Okay, so I know I can’t say that the fig tree is my favorite tree because I already claimed that the olive tree is. That’s okay because I don’t like figs anyway.

I first came across fig trees when I was growing up in Fresno, where there were plenty of fig orchards (if that is what you call them). My first reaction was that they were the ugliest tree I had ever seen, probably because the orchards around Fresno were older and the trees were squatty and gnarled. But I have learned a lot about figs since then.

Here are some fascinating facts about fig trees taken from a variety of sources.

1. There are over 750 known Ficus species in the world, native all across the globe.
2. Nearly every species of fig tree is pollinated by its own distinct species of fig wasp.
3. Fig tree flowers are actually hidden inside the fruit, which led many early cultures to believe the plants to be flowerless.
4. California produces 100% of the nation’s dried figs and 98% of the fresh figs.
5. The early Olympic athletes used figs as a training food. Figs were also presented as laurels to the winners, becoming the first Olympic “medals.”
6. Eating one half cup of figs has as much calcium as drinking one-half cup of milk.  

There are many other interesting facts and figures about fig trees, and no, not one of them has convinced my taste buds to like figs. But that is not the point, or perhaps that is exactly the point. The fig tree, more than any other tree, best represents us. Not many of the varieties are pretty. Not everyone likes figs. And not everyone knows a lot about the tree. Its legacy is not as rich or pervasive as the olive tree, but that doesn’t make the fig tree any less important.

I am not writing this so that we each see that we, as individuals, have value. I am writing this so that we see that others have value—whether they are pretty or not. Whether we like them or not. Whether we know anything about them or not. All were created by God; therefore, all are interesting in their own way and all have value.

There is a misconception among some Christians that Christian fellowship isn’t necessary—that once a person has accepted Christ, the rest—attending church, going to Bible study, being part of a small life group, or spending time with Christian friends—is optional. Some may even argue that their relationship is personal and that they get more out of just communing with God alone or walking in nature. While none of the above activities are mandatory for salvation, what is true is that Christian fellowship is needed for a healthy Christian life.

For example, take fire. Any good scout knows about the fire triangle, the three elements needed to create fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen (or any oxidizing agent). Remove any of the three and the fire ceases to exist. In addition, take an ember away from the others, and though it might glow for a while, it will eventually die.

Likewise, a healthy Christian life has three components: the individual, God’s Word, and Christian fellowship. Though a Christian will not cease to be a Christian because they don’t read their Bible, go to church, or spend time with Christian friends, doing each of these things is important, for if a Christian remains in isolation, eventually they would spiritually die.

It is also important to note that fellowship is not just getting together for a potluck or sitting with others listening to a sermon. True fellowship means getting involved in each other’s lives.  It allows for honesty, openness, and forgiveness. It provides strength, support, and accountability.

I know some people have been hurt by a church or by fellow Christians and so are reluctant to wade into those waters again. But more often than not, those who opt out of Christian fellowship are those who don’t want to be open, honest, or accountable because that would be uncomfortable. Pardon the play on words, but they don’t want to feel the heat . . . the heat that is necessary for the flame of faith to burn.

I think it was best said by Canadian pastor and speaker Carey Nieuwhof: “The only one who wants us to believe we are better off alone is our enemy.”

One of my favorite songs growing up was the old hymn “I Surrender All.” I loved both the smooth, comforting tune as well as the lyrics—particularly the first stanza.

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
 
I would sing it passionately and at the top of my voice. Even today, I will find myself slipping into singing this old familiar hymn, but now I realize two things. First, writer Israel Houghton made no mistake in the order he presented his lyrics, and second, I don’t do any of the things I am singing about.
 
Point 1: “All to Jesus I surrender.” Nope. I have not surrendered all. I have hung onto many things I passionately want to keep, believing my happiness depends on them.
 
Point 2: “All to Him I freely give.” Another Big Fat No! I do not freely give. I freely and willingly take without any qualms, and I more than happily give Jesus all my problems . . . well, almost all. Ironically, I don’t give Him those problems that I have created because of my unwillingness to surrender some of the things I love and cherish. I am afraid of what He might do with them--which leads me to point number 3.
 
“I will ever love and trust Him.” It is obvious by my unwillingness to give all to Him that I don’t trust Him, and if you don’t fully trust someone how can you fully love someone. There is obviously a big problem here.
 
Point 4: “In His presence daily live.” I would like to think I do, but if I haven’t surrendered all, if I am holding on to things I don’t want Him to meddle in, if I don’t trust Him or love Him completely, then it is obvious that I am not going to be living in His presence daily. In fact, I only want Him nearby when my agenda matches His. Otherwise, it can be a bit uncomfortable.
 
I obviously have some work to do, don't I? Do you as well? Are you like me? Are there areas of your life that you are unwilling to surrender and as a result feel unsettled and out of step with God?
 
I am thankful for God’s forgiveness and grace and will cling to Paul’s assertion in Philippians 1:6 that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
 
Maybe someday soon I can move on to the verse two.
 

I was on a walk recently with a friend who casually pointed out a cluster of poison oak and warned me to steer clear. I have never suffered from an encounter with poison oak. As a result, I don’t recognize it, don’t respect it as I should, and have an unhealthy belief that I am immune to its severe adverse effects. (About 15% of the population is.) Therefore, I do not take the necessary precautions I should when I venture out into areas where poison oak grows because I don’t think I am going to get it.

However, those who have suffered from poison oak definitely know what it looks like and either steer clear or take steps to avoid contact (long sleeves and pants) because they know the pain and discomfort that accompanies a bout of poison oak.

Unfortunately, many times this attitude of blissful ignorance seeps into other areas of our life as well. Because we have not encountered any negative effects from living in close proximity to dangerous or sinful situations, we often feel we are immune to the potential adverse effects, so feel we can cozy up to them with impunity. Possible? Yes. Probable? No.

So what should we do? Proverbs 12:15 says, “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others” (NLT). 

 So perhaps, best time to listen to the voices of experience is when we don’t think we need it.

Just recently, my mother was recounting her visit that she and my father took years ago to the biosphere 2, an experimental environment designed to recreate earth and study how the planet’s systems worked. Scientists hoped to use their research to create new, innovative ideas in relation to plant growth. What they actually learned was that the lack of one element proved detrimental to plants and fatal to trees. That element? Wind.

Without wind, the trees grew too fast and toppled over before they were mature. It turns out that wind is vital in a tree's growth. Wind makes plants and trees stronger because the wind keeps them moving, which, in turn, causes “stress in the wooden load bearing structure of the tree. . . . To compensate, the tree manages to grow something called the reaction wood (or stress wood).” This wood allows trees to position themselves to “get the best light” or “optimum resources” and is why trees can survive in awkward and contorted shapes. In short, trees and plants need the stress of fighting against the wind to survive.

Many of us believe we would love to live a carefree, “wind-free” life. We would gladly bypass the struggles of life, but actually that is not true nor is it good.

Victor Frankl in his book Man’s Search for Meaning (about his time in a German concentration camp) looks at man’s will to live and concluded that man needs tension in his life, and that he will often seek it out. Two minor examples are the love of competition for some and the need to introduce a new adventure or endeavor by others, whether it is skydiving or card making. These new endeavors put us in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable situations where we must overcome either our fears or our inadequacies in order to win or master the new task. Though some of us require more tension than others do in order to feel alive or find meaning, we will all seek out something new to introduce tension when our lives become too blasé.

Though I know there is a difference between seeking out our own stressful situations and having them imposed on us, I think I can now understand two verses better than I did before.

The first is James 1:2-4, when James reminds us to “. . . count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Trials are our wind, creating situations requiring us to build up our “stress wood” so that we lack nothing and may be “perfect and complete.”

The other verse is I Corinthians 10:13 which says, “. . . but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” God knew all about Frankl’s logotherapy and the varying degrees of stress each person could take long before Frankl coined the term.

Yes, we do enjoy the calm weather in our life when all is going well. We even welcome those sweet breezes, those small challenges that give us a sense of achievement when we conquer them. We will also impose difficult projects and adventures on ourselves, then bow our heads and turn our shoulders into them and work our way through. But we must also remember that there will be unexpected gusts and overwhelming winds of unwelcome trials, which will threaten to take us off our feet and that we must endure, for only then can we become mature, develop deep roots, and grow strong.
 
Pant, Anna. “The “Role of Wind in a Tree’s Life.” WESCI Science Everyday.