I was invited by a daily reading on this chilly December morning to find reasons to have joy. To see the goodness and love of God in life and this season. For the last few years I have shared on a social media platform using snaps or pics and this view out the window above my desk is one I often use for a good morning friends message. When I looked at the trees with their bare limbs extending out and downward from the trunk, I noticed the smaller twigs and skinnier limbs that are reaching up toward the muted sunlight. How often our lives resemble the structure of a tree.

The roots are where they get their nourishment from the earth. You might say the roots are the soul or heart of the tree. The roots provide what the tree needs no matter what is going on around the tree which is why they can survive our whacky up and down central Illinois weather. So too, our own soul, the very heart of who we are, provides what we need inside to face the day, the season, the moments, even the memories that are all around us.

The trunk of the tree is grounded by the roots and provides the delivery system to each limb. The main limbs are representative of the different parts of us, our family, our health, our job, our beliefs, our friendships, hobbies, etc. Some of those bigger limb may take a dive toward the earth, seemingly on a downward trend. But the smaller limbs and twigs that are outshoots always reach up toward the sun which provides the other ingredient for life and sustenance. Even in the muted or overcast moments of sunshine where life seems dark and dreary, somehow these limbs still reach for what they need. They know the source will be there.

Life will always have downward trends, but like a tree, we have offshoots that naturally reach upward for what we need and know is available for us. Sometimes that is through our faith, our family, our friends, and connection to those who have encountered the same downward trend or tragedy and struggle in their own lives.

Just as a tree needs outside help at times to maintain stability, so we too may have moments of needed “trimming” which require resources outside our ability to provide ourselves. Professional help or counseling is a positive and often necessary choice in order to make it out of that downward trend in our lives. Especially if we find ourselves reaching for things that would be harmful or dangerous to our future stability.

In this time of celebration of Christmas and the ending of another year of life, which like a tree’s limbs will likely include both downward and consistent upward trends, let us look for the joy of the moment, reaching for the light and hope that helps us sustain life.