Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, January 23, 2025
We had a chance to hike up the trails to South Tiger Mountain and came across a large blow down area from the last windstorm. This picture shows a small part of the area with many trees down. A trail crew must have come through recently to clear a path through dozens of trees that were blocking the trail. In some places they rerouted the trail where an uprooted tree was too big to remove.
It makes me think about the following verses and I’ll explain why.
He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:65-69
The disciples knew that without Jesus they would have nothing. They wisely chose to continue following.
Back to the trees — it appears part of the reason for so many fallen trees is that previous logging removed large sections of forest next to the area shown. Without the full forest for a wind break, these trees were at the direct mercy of the wind.
In a similar way when we choose to follow Jesus and his teaching, we benefit by staying in the protective environment of God’s guidance.