June Devotional: A Greek Proverb

Dear Southport Congregational Church,

If you’ve stopped by the church recently and swung by my office, then you’ve seen a few new pictures and paintings that have recently gone up. There’s a poster, of the twelfth hole of the Masters Tournament. A historical picture from the first board of deacons. Even a few Fathers’ Day presents from my kids. But there’s one picture frame that sits right next to my computer that always catches my eye.

This picture frame doesn’t hold a portrait of a loved one or even a beautiful scene in nature, rather this picture frame holds a quote. The quote isn’t from a movie or a popular song, but rather an ancient Greek proverb. It reads: a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

In other words, a society grows great when women, men and children lay down their own interests and invest in the lives of others. We see this when a church generously and graciously participates in providing food for local pantries and shelters. We see this when individuals and families buy the coat, hat, and mittens for the person who’s cold. We see this when we send the card of encouragement to the downtrodden. We see this when we welcome the stranger, care for the poor, tend to the sick, and visit the prisoner.

And in the greatest sense, we see this dynamic when God took on flesh through the birth of Jesus. In the most selfless act, and in thinking of us, God sent His one and only Son to live, die, and resurrect on earth for us. By sending Christ into the world, God planted the tree in whose shade we would sit; by sending Christ into the world, God granted us eternal life through Him. 

As we transition into the summer season, I would encourage you to plant a tree in someone else’s life; perhaps you will never reap the benefit of shade or fruit from that tree but someone else will. If this comes to fruition through prayer, then pray diligently for someone. If this comes to fruition through hospitality, then send the invitation for coffee or dinner. If this comes to fruition through friendship, then make the phone call or send the text. Whatever the case may be, it’s my hope and prayer that as we live into the calling of being God’s family here in Southport, we might be willing to plant a tree whose shade we know we shall never sit in.

Grace & Peace,
Rev. Dr. Mark Waterstone