My family and I are on the last leg of our summer road trip. We have been traveling for 10 days in our motor home, and our adventure has taken us all the way up to northern California and along the coast to Santa Cruz, Eureka, and Crescent City.
We have mainly been seekers of Redwoods. We have hiked, ridden bikes, and driven through some very amazing trees. These giants of the forest never cease to amaze me. Not only are some of them thousands of years old, but they have an amazing design (by our creator), to protect themselves.
Redwood trees are the tallest trees on earth. They are found mostly right along the California coast due to the type of weather that is there. They do not like frost or severe cold weather, but the fog from the ocean is pleasant for them. They can be as old as 2000 years, and grow 30 stories high.
Like their cousin, the Sequoia, they are fire and bug retardant. When a tree is injured from fire, or cut into, it will grow a burl, which is a lumpy outer growth that will produce another tree growth attached to the original. Redwoods also like to grow in groups and inter mingle their root systems. Their roots are surprisingly shallow, so they depend on each other for protection.
As always, when I am walking through our country side, I am thankful for God's creative mind, and his lessons that come from the very land and creatures He has made. When I see a Redwood, I think of how God made us fire retardant when we are His child. Nothing can separate us from his love, and He promises He will walk through the fire with us, and not let it harm us.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
Isaiah 43:2
What a promise! I have clung to that verse over the past four years! He will never let us be consumed by fire (testing), and will walk with us until the end. God will see us through!
I also love how the Redwoods don't fight for sunlight or space, they grow together and share the root system so that they can be stronger. That is also Biblical and the desire of God's heart for us. That is why I believe so strongly in being part of a church family. You have a common root system that can strengthen your relationship with God, and keep you strong when trials come. Anyone who stands alone during hard times, is weakened and an easy target for Satan.
I have another little fun side note from my trip. While in Klamoth, we saw some people stopped and taking pictures off the highway overpass. The Klamoth River flowed underneath, and we discovered that they were looking at a mother and baby grey whale. We got out and soaked in the sight, which has not happened since 1989. Whales are following me now! That is a joke that faithful readers will get due to my amazing adventure in Hawaii. (see April 2011 Blog). I was once again mesmerized by these giant creatures, and overjoyed to see one so close. Of course, I was also concerned with her getting back to the ocean. I was told that some marine biologist were watching her, and they had plenty of food for the time being.
It has been a wonderful trip with Jon and the girls. We are in San Francisco and looking forward to seeing the city today. Praise God! I am feeling great, and it has been a wonderful family time.
Blessings to all,
Sandy
