redwoods and big waves

something i'm fascinated by is how big things can be. this summer, i've been so incredibly blessed to be working in northern california in a smaller city called santa cruz. the two things that santa cruz is known for is it's big waves and big trees. various surfer magazines call this the number one surfing spot in the country (i wouldn't know yet, the water is 55 degrees at best!) and is also 15 minutes away from some of the most famous redwood trees (pictured above). we've been pretty busy planning and getting to know the students that just arrived but i was stuck on the trees this morning. let me digress

around 6:30am, i was on my way back from the airport (dropped off my sweetheart for a wedding she was going to). i was cruising down the windy roads in the middle of the trees and podcasting one of my favorite pastors as he talked about consistency in our walk with the Lord. as i was surrounded by such beautiful scenery, one of my favorite passages came to mind. in jeremiah 17:7-8, it discusses the idea of a man of God being someone that can weather different seasons. never fearing because of it's firmly planted root system that sustains it regardless of temperature or weather.

i pushed back and thought of the men i most respected. i can appreciate people who can do things physically that i can't. lift heavy weight, jump really high, speak very eloquently, dance with coordination. but the people i admire most are the ones with perseverance. i watched a movie recently called "the way back". it was about 7 men who escaped a camp from siberia in 1941, only to enter a desert followed by the himalayans to round off a 4,500 mile trek for freedom in india. they didn't do anything fascinating other than move and survive and that blew me away. that's not my point, but what a crazy story right?

anyways, the people i respect and admire the most are the ones who do something good and admirable on a continuous basis. the qualities of steadfastness and perseverance blow my mind. i watch my friend brandon lead his family well over and to consistently give himself up for them, it just witnesses to me. i watch countless other men work jobs and consistently die to themselves and i'm amazed.

so i guess my point is this: as a 23 year old, i'd rather start to be a tree than to be a bottle

rocket. i know every "carpe diem" person threw up when they heard that, but i love that idea. for a generation of men to consistently die to themselves would be so impactful. so i guess that could be a challenge for us, be trees.