A "Flourishing Tree"

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What does it mean to “Flourish”?

Whenever I see creation flourishing in spring/ early summer, I am reminded of my need to also “Bear Fruit”. It’s good to ask ourselves, am I flourishing?

Reflecting on Psalm 92, it is evident whose “soil” we need to be planted in to flourish:

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; They flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
— Psalm 92: 12-15

I love how this verse references flourishing and bearing fruit in “old age” as trees. I hope and pray that I can flourish even more as I age! I keep telling myself, I am 52 years YOUNG! Yet to flourish or gaining wisdom doesn’t automatically come with age. I’m learning it is our experiences rooted, redeemed and restored in Jesus that allows it to be so.

Rooted in the Vine

From the perennials in our garden, pots on the deck or hubby wooing me with flowers throughout our relationship…I’m often overwhelmed though by the beauty of a flourishing tree.

If we stop & truly listen- we will discover that ‘creation speaks’.

It whispers to our soul: “are you flourishing”?

What does flourishing look like, feel like, act like?

I’m finding over and over again that it’s important to reflect on which “Tree” we are rooted in, which “tree” we are reaching for, eating from (metaphorically) each step on our journey.

In the natural realm it’s so very easy to fall into the trap of comparing our lives to others to think we will flourish if I only had this or that…. Acted like him or her. That really is fruitless as the saying goes: ‘comparison is the thief of joy’, - but it’s much deeper than that.

As I ponder these questions of flourishing, I can’t help but look to Jesus known as the true “Vine” and his invitation to dig our roots into the soil of God himself as he said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5

Nothing? Yup. Zero. (I recall a fun loving sister in faith speaker Liz Curtis Higgs who graced the WJOF stage twice. She would say “zilch- dip nibbly squat”. l believe the interpretation is more like “nothing of true eternal value” as he was speaking to his disciples.

The Gift of Choice- The Challenge of Deception

As a little girl learning about the Creation and the Fall story. I remember thinking how gullible Eve (and Adam) were to the serpent and eat from the wrong tree. I didn’t understand how cunning evils lies really are. Apart from God, our bent is more often than not to “do what is right in our own eyes” (see verses like Judges 17:5, Judges 21:25, Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 3:7, Romans 8:5, 1 John 1:8).

Now as a believer in Jesus Christ, I understand fully the gift of choice, as true love doesn’t force obedience, submission and service to the One who created them. Flourishing involves dying to self as Jesus said to his disciples: “Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

“As counterintuitive as it sounds, flourishing is a slow and progressive death that brings abundant life. Our new heart has new desires. Even as our physical bodies grow old, God causes our new desires to flourish as they are fertilized by his word and Spirit, and we die to self-centered desires, dreams, and demands. This is possible because of God’s covenant promise that he will be our God, we will be his people, and he will live among us.”- ( by: Sharon W. Betters, Susan Hunt blog/ Crossway).

I am currently winding down my year as a “Rooted” mentor with the Sisterhood Ministry here in Saskatoon. I’ll share more about that later, but as I consider the topic of flourishing, I cannot comprehend what that journey would have been for me if it had not been for the women (and men) who have mentored/ and been apart of my spiritual family to help me grow. Likewise, it is an honour and joy to be asked to help others grow in some way.

Tim and I were asked to be Godparents to our niece Brynn Grace Anderson born this past month. We drove down to Woodbury, MN to visit my Brother and sister in law to celebrate with them but also to hold this little princess.

Sigh. I think I could sit and hold babies all day. The cherry blossom decal tree they hung in Brynn’s nursery reminds me of this verse: “A God shaped life is a flourishing tree”. - Proverbs 11:28


A new baby often brings calm to my soul. They remind me to rest. We all start out in life so small, so dependent on our parents/ caregivers for literally everything.

Ultimately, most birdies will fly the nest and be more independent as they grow.

I’ve learned through the years that being too independent is not good as we were created to be “interdependent” with people in healthy relationships. (Avoiding the two extremes of being too overtly independent and flying solo too much or being codependent without a sense of self).

Regardless, I love the truth where we are meant to be “like a child” in our relationship with our Creator. (Matthew 18:1-5) Totally dependant on God as our spiritual parent (the only perfect parent), and allow the Holy Spirit to nurture and comfort us as we trust in Jesus. 🙏👶 As I held this sweet one in my arms, I so want her to flourish in all ways. As an auntie, I can pray for her as I do with others on my heart. No matter our age, we are called to Flourish and bear fruit as we are rooted in the Tree of Life Himself. Our lifelong journey is to “abide in the vine” (John 15:1-11) knowing deep upon deep the life lessons we learn from God’s wisdom to us through the analogy of a flourishing tree and all that it entails for us.

The Tree of Life

My head was immersed in this topic this week as I am studying the book of Revelation this year with two modules being offered at Horizon College & Seminary with Dr. Martin Culy and Dr. Susan Wendell. The Tree of Life is mentioned in the first and last book of the Bible and it has intrigued me for years. The more I press into this flourishing concept in Christ, the more I understand what this Tree of Life is as in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9) and the Tree of life in the Book of Revelation (22:9). I want to be shaped by this “Tree” (Jesus Christ) and steer clear from the “other tree” (Sin, rebellion to God and doing right in our own eyes which has been the peril of humanity ever since). Below is a fascinating animated video helping to unpack the meaning of the “Tree of Life”.

“Explore the rich biblical theme of the tree of life, from its introduction in the garden of Eden to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice.”
— - Bible Project on the "Tree of LIfe"

“A God shaped life is a flourishing tree”
— Proverbs 11:28