The joke used to be that famed late TV personality Barbara Walters would ask people she was interviewing, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?” I have no idea whether she did that or not, and I don’t care.  My type of tree would change depending on the conditions—sometimes the steadfast oak, sometimes the prolific and annoying tallowwood, and so on.  In the forest of faith, I have to admit that I am a bonsai.

Slow growing: My faith continues to grow slowly, continually amidst the ever-changing conditions of life. I would think that is the case for most people unless they have a Road to Damascus moment like Saul (St. Paul). Even then, his faith grew from that new starting point.

Requires trimming: Bonsai trees require careful elimination of some elements to improve growth. Same here, except instead of branches and leaves, I must continually attend to trimming away bad habits, wrong-headed ideas and unkind behaviors.

Needs transplanting: One of the secrets to having a long-living bonsai tree is transplanting to assure that the tree does not become root bound. As for me, I know that I have had to change jobs, locations and networks when I realized that they were actually damaging my chance to grow in faith.

But in the end, long-lasting: Bonsai trees can last hundreds or thousands of years, according to the literature. My belief is that by developing faith and living accordingly, I have eternity to look forward to.

Though I am not a bonsai at all times, and am sometimes (often) more annoying or frustrating examples of species, I know to remember the truths of faith growth as evidenced in the lives and characteristics of the bonsai tree.