As the winter has turned to spring in Kansas, I have been reflecting on faith and its comparison to various things in nature. This is the second in a series of posts on this topic.
A deciduous tree is always somewhere in a cycle with its leaves: budding, green, browning, losing and bare. This type of faith would be somewhere in a cycle: growth, vibrancy, losing luster and barren. While a deciduous tree goes through the seasons in a year, this type of faith could cycle much more often or perhaps over a series of years. Like the evergreen tree there would be periods of growth and dormancy, however they would be more noticeable on the outside. Any disease or pests become evident when the leaves begin to turn brown. Questions about faith or times of spiritual discontent would be evident sooner than later. A catastrophic event could completely uproot this tree (or faith) and leave it without roots to die.
Would you like to have faith like a deciduous tree?
What else would you add to this simile?
Rev. Andrew Conard 
2 replies on “Faith Like a Deciduous Tree (2 of 4)”
While the tree appears barren during winter (even the evergreen loses needles and looks thin and weak) there is life within – a life that is relying on the resources it has been drawing from the earth and storing as it waits patiently to produce its leaves and fruits. The leaf, the fruit is ever within the tree waiting for release. Is it not the same with those of faith? The life is within, the buds near the surface and the fruit just waiting to burst forth.
Richard – Well written. Indeed.