This acorn only has a 1 in 10,000 chance of becoming a tree.
If you are a math challenged individual like myself, the title of today’s post may cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. I came up with this nugget of truth as I was watering my tomatoes and okra this morning and noticed acorns strewn everywhere. I felt the nudge to pick one up, so I did. After doing a little research, I knew why I felt the nudge.
First of all, it’s amazing to me that a massive tree can come from this tiny seed. White oaks, like the ones in my backyard can grow anywhere from 65 to 100 feet tall. That’s a really big tree. They can also live up to 200 years and some species have been known to live over a thousand years.
It’s truly amazing that these massive trees could come from something as tiny as an acorn.
Even more amazing is the fact that only one in ten thousand acorns will become a tree. Think about that for a moment. It takes an oak tree anywhere from twenty to fifty years to even be able to produce acorns. Mature trees will produce an average of 2,200 acorns each fall.
The odds of having oak trees around don’t seem very good, yet there are at least ten in my backyard alone, and oak trees grow almost everywhere in the world. Now that we have had a little botany lesson, let’s dig a little deeper.
Let’s take a minute to think about the oak tree and the God who created it. What can we learn from it? First of all, God isn’t interested in the odds of success. Of course, we have seen that in the Bible over and over again. What are the chances of a baby surviving in a basket in the crocodile infested Nile River? What are the chances of a young boy taking down a fierce, armor wearing giant? What are the chances of a teenager being thrown into a den of lions and walking away without a scratch?
The more impossible the odds seem to us, the more God seems to like it. He likes to use the what seems to be impossible, to us to show that all things are possible with Him. Part of Moses’ story was the fact that God had him picked out from the beginning. The basket in the river simply showed God’s protection. If a well armed, well-trained warrior had taken down Goliath, it wouldn’t have been miraculous. Daniel’s amazing faith not only saved him, but served as a witness to the many who heard about it.
Secondly, the mighty oak tree is very slow growing and because of that, it grows very tall and strong. It’s also very resistant to pests and disease. It provides incredible shade to the living things around it, respite from the oppressive heat. Its acorns provide food for over 180 birds and mammals. It’s beautiful year round, from the budding in the spring to the incredible colors in the fall.
There are other trees, like the pine, native here in Georgia, that grow much faster, but they are much more susceptible to disease and pests. Not only that, a strong wind or ice storm can destroy pine trees in no time flat.
As Christians, I think we should look to the oak for inspiration. We should take our time and grow strong, deep roots. We should use our resources to feed those around us both physically and spiritually. We should let our long branches provide shade and shelter and we should let our light shine, no matter the season. Perhaps most importantly, we should remember that nothing is impossible with God, whatever the odds.
Yes, I’m glad I picked up the acorn. It’s just one more reminder that when we truly seek God, we will find Him.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂