We have a Maple Tree in the boulevard that I think is sick, but it’s hard to tell. Most of the branches are full of life, the little helicopters were flying off left and right. One night when they were blowing off I thought I heard a light rain – it was the Maple seeds hidden in the transparent helicopters that were pattering on the sidewalk. In any case – there are a couple branches that had to be cut off last year, and now it appears we’ll be having to cut off another. Higher up on the trunk is a hole that looks like maybe a woodpecker has been feeding off and there appears to be some kind of split growth thing going on where the branches first start forming from the bottom trunk. We also have a burning bush that appears to be dead – perhaps the rabbits ate too much of the bark over the past winter and spring – but we’re not taking it out yet, because maybe, if we shock the trunk near to the ground, it may spring up with new growth later this summer or next spring.

This is how it is with our bodies sometimes, isn’t it? The body has a sickness somewhere and somebody has to diagnose what and where it is. Perhaps there are multiple parts that are sick so healing takes time. But while the sickness is being diagnosed, life goes on and new things are being created in body, mind and spirit. That’s just how it is with life.

This is how it is with organizations sometimes as well. Sometimes a sub-group stops being productive and if not cut off, this group taps life out of the rest of the organization. It’s difficult sometimes for the organization itself to recognize where the source of illness is. Sometimes it takes an outside agency or group to diagnose the organizations healthy activity. I say activity rather than productivity because sometimes activity may seem to be non-productive when in actuality it is preparing for great productivity. Just like a seed, planted in the ground – you cannot see if it is active until it breaks through the ground. And then, the health is still yet to be determined. Trees would look rather odd with leaves on the bottom, trunks sticking off the side and branches poking into the ground. With a trunks roots not being grounded, a tree would die for lack of nutrition.

That’s the way it is with organizations.

Discernment, time and patience is what gardening and caring for plants is all about. It’s also what our lives are about. Discernment of the health of organizations and families can’t be really done well without every part or person taking part. It’s a long process, best done with much transparency and always with honesty and integrity. If you aren’t knowledgeable about the area, the function, the person, the personalities, the goals, the purpose, then it’s best not to be involved with the diagnosis. Far too often inexperienced persons try to do the discerning and diagnosis and even begin telling others. The result can be disastrous and it’s as difficult to put out a forest fire of gossip in a community as it is a real forest fire. It’s like someone trying to be an editor who knows nothing about grammer and punctuation, storylines, etc. . . or the necessity of confidentiality and not sharing the story with other people. It really doesn’t work well, duz it? Ervey dya I cee pstonigs aoubt fi ouy cna raed htsi thne uyo’re sarmt!

So many people say they can read these things but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ok not to learn proper spelling, punctuation, etc. Because there are a lot of people still learning how to read, and many who there are many who struggle with reading – proper placement of letters is important to proper enunciation and the future skills of reading and writing. Different personalities have different languages and needs than other personalities and it’s sometimes difficult to believe you need people who are different than yourself in order for God to accomplish the work he has for us to do. So it is in families and organizations, each person has it’s place, purpose and function. Given time and proper nutrition and pruning, over time a twig becomes a branch, a seed falls and is planted elsewhere and another grows. And so it is in families and organizations as well. Each have their own life cycle, but all together they are eternal . . . and each one needs a diagnostic tune up or a season of rest from time to time to maintain their best vitality.

Lord, you give gifts and skills to your people for the purpose of building up a heavenly (and healthy) body on earth as well as in heaven. Grant us a willingness to use our skills and gifts, and allow others to use theirs according to your plans and purpose. We ask this for the glory of your name. AMEN