“Lean On Me”

Today we did reforestation on a farm on the edge of one of the many mountains in Tuis, Costa Rica. We were so high in elevation that at some moments it felt as though we were in the clouds, and I don’t think I have ever seen so many flourishing, green plants in my life. It felt like I had been picked up and plopped directly into the movie Journey To The Center Of The Earth (the one with The Rock because duh)

One of the farmers, Heraldo, took us down the mountain to the river where the property ends to help him plant trees. I love reforestation, and was so fascinated watching and helping Heraldo work. As we were planting the baby trees, delicately placing them in the spots that Heraldo had intentionally picked out, I watched Heraldo plant a drooping tree. The second after he planted it, he turned to his right, grabbed a stick, and pushed it deep into the damp soil for the tree to lean on. He then turned to his left and grabbed a vine next to him, ripped it out of the ground, and tied the tree to the stick, providing the support that it needed to grow tall and strong. 

The Lord does for us exactly what the stick and vine are doing for that tree. I’ve been reading a book by Rebecca Pippert called Stay Salt (shoutout to Greg Dement for sending it to me, miss you!!!) and one of the chapters talks about recognizing our smallness in order to truly appreciate the Lords vastness. Psalm 63:8 says, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” This is such a simple concept that in today’s world is so often brushed over. I think that we’re quick to see ourselves alone as huge, strong trees when in reality we are baby trees desperately needing something to lean on. When I first started to fully comprehend this truth- the fact that just like the baby tree, I cannot stand on my own, it stung a little. I then realized how beautiful that concept actually is. Not only does it represent who the Lord wants to be for us, but it represents what Jesus did on the cross. On the field I am constantly being tested and reminded of my weaknesses, and then I am met with the truth that we are literally made to lean on Him. So instead of being frustrated that I am not a huge tree able to stand on my own, I am learning to rejoice in the fact that I need sticks to lean on because it makes the Lord that much more vast.