Trees and Streams

Psalms 1 describes a certain kind of person. A person who is...

…like a TREE planted by STREAMS of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

Wisdom literature (e.g. psalms and proverbs) often use a 'tree' as an image for wisdom. You'll also see the combination of 'wisdom' and 'tree of life' used to describe someone who is life-giving or restorative (e.g. Proverbs 3:18; 11:30; 15:4).

Imagine if part of our vision for life would be to become this kind of person:

Life-Giving-Restorative Person.

A person who...
...Blesses others
...Injects life into people around us
...Nurtures people
...Gives hope
...Contributes to the well being of those in his/her life

Does your spouse feel this about you? Are your friends better off because of you or thankful for you? Is your community getting an injection of life because you live there? Have you contributed to the well being of someone in your church recently?

This person doesn't happen by accident. Like the tree, they are intentionally located near streams.

Fruit trees don't grow by accident. They grow naturally, but only if they are nourished. This tree was located near an irrigation canal that constantly fed it.

E.G. Eccl. 2:5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.

If you want to become this Life-Giving-Restorative Person, what kind of streams have you included in your life to help you grow into this?

To be honest, the GOAL is BECOMING, the means are the STREAMS.
The goal of a fruit tree is fruit, but the means aren't fruit, it's the streams.

STREAMS GROW THE TREES
TREES YIELD FRUIT

STREAM SUGGESTIONS:

...Communion with God.
...Spiritual Community with Christ followers.
...Rest.
...Reflection.
...Practicing Generosity and Servanthood.

As you're reflecting on what kind of 2012 you'd like to have, and more importantly, what kind of person you'd like to become, consider the following.

DO I WANT TO BECOME A LIFE-GIVING-RESTORATIVE-PERSON?

ARE THERE STREAMS IN MY LIFE THAT WILL NURTURE ME TOWARDS THIS?

WHAT STREAMS MUST I PUT IN PLACE TO NURTURE ME TOWARDS THIS?
(are there things in my schedule prohibiting me from including a healthy stream?)

* you can use this idea with other goals in your life (go ahead, it's helpful), however the psalm writer seems to believe that one of the more important visions for life the vision in 1:3