Look Up

Almost 2 years ago, we planted several Coast Live Oak trees in our yard. We live out in a rural area that has enough space to support these native giants. These Oaks are iconic in Southern California because of the shear mass they can achieve over the course of hundreds of years. It’s awe-inspiring to stand under a 100-year oak tree and dream about what it has been witness to.

The climate in SoCal has been extremely hot and humid the past several weeks. The other day, I was on our back patio and found myself staring at these newly planted Oaks as if my glaring would will them to grow faster. I want the shade and privacy now! The irony is that the reason Coast Live Oaks can live so long is in part because they grow at a slower pace to allow for deep roots and even harder wood. If you have ever thrown a piece of oak in a fire you understand how much longer it will burn as compared to that bundle of Pine you bought at the grocery store. Hardwood is developed during hard times.

Right then and there it dawned on me that you can’t rush the type of growth that will last generations. The type of growth we need is slow, deliberate, and often leads us wondering if we are growing at all. Are we prepared to plant for the next generation? Planting for the future means that we don’t get to enjoy the shade during our time. What we do get to enjoy is the process of feeding, watering, and looking after these young trees to ensure that they grow in an environment that is suitable for 100 years, not the next 100 days.

As your Chief Encouragement Officer, I want to encourage you that we are in a season of planting and pruning. The digging, the watering, and the cutting is not terribly enjoyable, but it is all the while a great privilege. Remember to look up and admire the canopy you sit under because a previous generation did the same for you!