ADENOSTOMA FASCICULTA

I was reading this morning about a shrub, Adenostoma fasciculata. I would not have known about this plant except from the author John Muir in his book "My First Summer in the Sierra." This plant that grows in the desert "is very abundant on the lower slopes...forming a dense, almost impenetrable growth that looks dark in the distance. It belongs to the rose family..." It's not very high and has small white flowers. It "has small white flowers...round needle-like leaves, and reddish bark that becomes shreddy when old." Muir goes on to say that this bush often gets swept away by fires but is quickly renewed from the roots. Plants that grow amidst this Adenostoma fasciculata "also rise again from the root after consuming fires."

In this small section that Muir wrote, this plant can be related to people, especially Christians. Christians are abundant, and they do at times find themselves in deserts. But even as they live in deserts, they can still grow, flourish, and add beauty. Whether the Christian's deserts are the struggles they fight through one at a time, or the lack of Christian fellowship within a neighborhood, or a personal, spiritual, desert, a Christian who is living for the Lord will affect those around them, providing stability and the necessary roots needed for growth. Christians have been tested and persecuted over the years, being placed in spiritual fires, some in literal fires such as the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo. When faith is rooted deep in the grounds of Christ, not even the fires can completely destroy the Christian. They will rise up once again, quickly renewed by the roots in Christ they have established and become beautiful, showing off their glory as does this plant with small white flowers.

If you were to reflect back upon your life, what fires or deserts have you experienced over the years? How strong would you say your faith was; would it survive the fires of persecution, temptation, and other deserts? Would you have confirmation that your roots are deep and that growth continues despite the harsh conditions? Are there others in your life over the years that have relied on your strength and provisions for their own spiritual growth? Take the next couple of weeks to ponder some of these thoughts before we celebrate Thanksgiving. And then on that special day, as you remember the history for this holiday, celebrate and be thankful for God's work in your life.