Cypress Trees

It seems as if I have always been drawn to cypress trees. I don't really know all the reasons. There seems to be a certain mystique to their form - beautiful objects that are at home in harsh conditions. As with most things, there is more than meets the eye. Quite a few things that have been learned about them through years of research. And the more I've learned about them in recent study, the more I want to be like them. You might want to also.

Adapting to the Environment
Cypress trees can really be planted anywhere. They are used as decoration in yards, but they are also found in swampy or flooded regions. Many, like the one pictured above, actually have roots under water. Special parts of the root called "cypress knees" protrude out of the water to grab nutrients from the air as well. This particular one is in the backwaters of the Tennessee River near Florence, Alabama. If placed in this environment most other trees would drown or rot. They survive and thrive in most conditions.
The reality is that very few of us live in perfect conditions. We face struggles at work, at school, at home, in the neighborhood, at ball games, at the store, and even at church. Life is tough. I want to be able to adapt. I don't want the struggles of life to destroy me. I want to use the struggles and whatever resources are available to help me survive - and thrive - like a cypress.

Helping Others
Cypress trees aren't selfish. They are quite beneficial to their environment in many key ways. Due to their location on the banks of rivers and swamplands, they are essential to the prevention of the soil's erosion in those areas. Along the banks it often appears that there is a wall of wood because of their large bases. So while they use the resources they have to their own good, they also give back to their environment.
They also provide a safe haven for wildlife. Reptiles and fish are naturally drawn to their roots and stumps. Anybody that has spent any time on the river knows that you will find some good fishing in and around them (if you can keep from getting hung up in all the stuff under water you can't see - speaking again to the safety the wildlife feel). Ducks and other birds get valuable nutrition from the seed cones that fall from the cypress each year.
It is my understanding that they also cleanse the water. As they soak up the water they pull pollutants from it. They help to make it safer for everything else around it. Cypress trees don't just take from the land and water, they give.
My goal is to do the same. What good have I done if I get through a struggle and refuse to help those around me to do the same? Humans were created for interaction and community. We are meant to hold up one another when times are difficult. It's the way we are designed. Paul told those in Ephesus, "Let no unwholesome (rotten) words come out of your mouth but only such a word that is good for edification, according to the need of the moment so that it may give grace to those who hear it" (Ephesians 4:29).

Reaching Up
It never really occurred to me how tall Cypress trees can get. While they certainly aren't on the list of the tallest in the world, they have been referred to as giants. They can stretch to a height of around 120 feet tall. As I already mentioned, even parts of their root, "the knees," reach toward the sky. A swamp full of these tall trees is certainly an impressive sight.
Anyone that knows me knows that I'm not named among the tallest people around either. Spiritually, I am just like everyone else too. I struggle from time to time. My goal, however, is to reach upward. My goal is to do better today than I did yesterday. To grow in faith. To grow in strength. To grow in love. I can't do it alone, but I do have to put forth the effort. Ironically, Paul said, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the UPWARD call of God in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 3:14.
Even for those of you who don't identify as Christians there is the idea of making improvements in your life. Almost everyone sees it as noble and good to work at overcoming odds and conquering the mountains of life. Some people choose other paths to help them do so. I choose God to help me on that journey. I choose to reach toward Him.

Cypress trees aren't perfect. Neither am I. They certainly aren't the only trees that have an impressive story. But I think if I had to choose a tree to represent myself and my work, the cypress tree might just be the one. What kind of families, communities, and organizations would we be if we all set our mind to thrive in life regardless of our circumstances? What would life be like if we determined to be a resource and help to those around us? What if we constantly set goals that took us up positive paths in our lives?

Ben