Under the surface.

God keeps going deeper.

As part of my Kid's Ministry, one of my goals is to intertwine the study of nature and science into my lessons. I want my kids to understand that science doesn't supersede God or contradict him... it reveals Him. Insert here, a kid’s church lesson on the interconnectedness of God's creation and how everything works together by design... and so should we!

God created Trees... and He created People. But behind the scenes he also created a system by which humans inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide while trees do the opposite! He unified his creation by making us codependent with nature.

BUT WAIT, there's more. Have you ever heard of the mycorrhizal network? Underneath the forest floor, intertwined with the roots of the trees, is a fascinating microscopic network of fungus. Trees use it to share nutrients and water as well as tosend distress signals about drought, disease, or insect attacks. Other trees then alter their growth patterns, ration water consumption, and even drop leaves early to make their own compost in response to these messages. Scientists call these mycorrhizal networks.

According to the National Forrest Foundation, the oldest trees serve as Forrest HUBS. “Typically, they have the most fungal connections. Their roots are established in deeper soil, and can reach deeper sources of water to pass on to younger saplings. Through the mycorrhizal network, these hub trees detect the ill health of their neighbors from distress signals, and send them needed nutrients.”

The mycorrhizal network is an integral part of this connectivity. Now, Fungi are only acting in their own best interests. By keeping trees healthy they maintain their own shady comfortable survival… but this also facilitate health and vitality for even the biggest trees.

They don't compete for resources; they help each other thrive... and so should we!

Here's the point... Be like a forest! Or better yet, be like a member of the Church of Acts.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. ~Acts2:42

They kept each other heathy and flourishing!

What if each of us were willing to sacrifice even a little bit of "our own" to help the rest of us thrive? What if we looked a little deeper and discovered that we are more like the roots and mycelium (interconnected and codependent) and less like individual trunks. What if, when one of us was healthier we all felt stronger!

A Prayer for Unity

In this time as in others,Our deep hope, our tender prayer,Is that we learn to listen.

May we listen to one another in openness and mercy.

May we listen to plants and animals with wonder and respect.

May We listen to our own hearts to offer love and forgiveness.

May we listen to God in quietness and awe. And in this listening,Which is boundless in its beauty,May we find the wisdom to cooperate with Holy Spirit, who beckons us into peace and community and creativity.

We do not ask for a perfect world. But we do ask for a better world.

We ask and we listen.

- Jay McDaniel, Professor of Religion, Hendrix College, Arkansas

We are using CarePortal like a mycorrhizal network... sending distress signals from our community directly to your inbox! If you'd like to get those emails, so that you know how to respond to local needs please click HERE and register as a responder! We would love to plug you into the root system! I can't wait to see the revival that falls when we unite in this way to change our city, our country... the globe... and eternity!