The Tree Trimmer

We all were moving the pedals on our bikes and looking out the window. It was Friday morning spin, what has become one of my regular classes. The cycling room has floor to ceiling windows looking out into the parking lot in front of the gym. I find welcome distraction from the strenuous work of the class watching the coming and goings of cars, people, and delivery trucks. 

That day, though, they had a section of the parking lot blocked, and the street in front of the building closed off. A boom lift was now driving on the street, stopping at the first palm tree in the row. Ohh---we were in for some real entertainment today! I thought, as all the pieces came together.

The tree trimmer went to work, removing the lower branches at the top of the long, skinny trunk. We all watched as each large branch fell to the ground, my mind adding a thud. The tree trimmer kept going around the tree and cut off the hanging pods that dangled down from the branches with their weight. He kept on trimming while the class kept spinning, and I was amazed at how much he was taking off. Will there be any branches left?

He was finished by the end of the class, the top looking like a pineapple. The pile of debris underneath the tree was pretty impressive. The rest of the crew worked on cleaning up the mess, while the man drove the boom to the next tree in line to get its haircut. 

Tree trimming is something that seems to capture everyone's attention. We look on, amazed at the transformation happening in front of our eyes. I know one little boy that wouldn't sleep at naptime because of the excitement going on across the street one afternoon about 8 years ago.

What a sweetie, gosh I wish I could spend an afternoon with him again 💙

We had a big tree in front of our house trimmed in Colorado, and I know the neighbors enjoyed watching the thinning out of the tree by the tree man as much as I did that morning! 

My first tendency is to feel bad for the tree for some reason. Maybe you're like me and can imagine the tree being hurt by each cut, being sad at the loss of its branches as the tree trimmer takes off one after another. There's a relief when the process is over, and also some sadness for the tree. 

But we know it's good for the tree, in the long run. Proper maintenance will make it healthier and have a longer life. Even though it seems harsh or extreme, the tree will actually be stronger because of its trimming than if it was left to grow wild.

Now there has already been a lot said about the parallels between garden/tree work and the pruning or trimming God does in our lives. We find encouragement in knowing that the pruning He does, though painful, will make us healthier and better off in the long run just like trees and plants. Even though we feel stripped after the process and maybe more than a little sad, if we are patient, we'll actually be flourishing once again, even more so than before. 

I thought of that, as the branches fell from the palm tree as I spun on my bike. But as I watched the man work on the tree, I shifted my focus to him. I wonder if he realizes how many people are watching him work. Questioning his every cut, feeling sorry for the tree. Does he wish he could explain to us bystanders why he's treating this tree in this particular way? I feel like I'd want to reassure people watching critically how much better off the tree will be. 

Or maybe he's confident in his work. His knowledge of trees and what is best for them guides him as he tackles the job at hand. He knows how to work with palm trees, and the best time to do their trimming. If he had done this right before our inferno season (summer), the tree might not have been strong enough to survive. Or if this was a young tree, it might not handle the loss of branches as well as this mature one. He knows that now was the perfect time to take off what looked to me like half of this tree's branches, and he did it.

I'm sure the trimming of palm trees differs from the trimming of other kids of trees. The next day, this man might trim an oak or evergreen and approach the job totally differently. Maybe he takes less branches, leaves the seed pods, or cuts from a different angle. 

The tree trimmer has to trust his knowledge and wisdom to handle each job accordingly with confidence.

Maybe you see where my mind went next. How wonderful it is that God doesn't let bystanders get in the way of His work tending to us, His trees. What peace is found in trusting that God is confident in His plan, knows His wisdom is sound, and can see to the future all the good that will come from His trimming and pruning. Our whining or the naysayers watching do not deter Him from what He knows is the right thing to do. Praise God!

Because like the tree trimmer, God knows his trees. He doesn't treat the palm trees the same as the maple trees either. He knows what is best for me, might not have the same positive effect in you. He knows what season is best to do His pruning work, mindful of what you will have to handle in the next season. What He allows in my life now would have wrecked me as a young Christian, so He held off. His wisdom is perfect, and so is His work.

How amazing our God is! What a relief to trust in Him.

I'm reminding myself of this as I wade deeper into the work of trying to get my book published. I can trust in His plan. He knows just what time is perfect for things to work out. When I reach dead ends or He turns me around, I can rest assured that He knows what's best for me and it will all come together for my good according to His plan, not mine. I just have to keep doing my work and let Him do His. 

Which is hard for me, I like to know the plan, have direction, work my way to the next goal. Thank goodness God doesn't let my whining change his perfect plan. I might miss out on something better if I settled for what I wanted right away. I can look back at so many examples of that already in my life. Why do I need so many reminders, how is it I forget so quickly? I'm thankful He sends the reminders, though, even if it's when I least expect it, like at cycling class.

The joy I was filling up with from remembering how well He's taken care of me throughout our crazy life gave me energy to get through the class. I wiped off my bike and left with a smile. Maybe I should do this more often. Reflect on God and who He is, not myself so much. We'd all be better served to take our focus off ourselves, as the tree, and onto God, the tree trimmer. How much more joy we'd feel if we spent our time worshiping and praising Him instead of questioning and whining. Simply trust in Him, spread the branches we have, and soak up the dazzling sun.

Maybe this perspective on the tree trimmer isn't as hot a take as I think it is. But at least for me, it was a fresh perspective on an analogy I thought I'd already learned. It "hit different" last week, as the kids would say, while I watched the palm branches fall. I left the gym drenched in sweat as usual, but also drenched in encouragement. Not because of who I am, but because of who God is.