The Lodgepole Pine
Many of us have heard the analogy of God’s fire likened to the process of refining gold–removing the dross so that in the end we can be pure gold–reflecting God’s very nature.
But I doubt many of us have heard of the Lodgepole Pine. The cones of this tree have a layer of resin and woody tissue that stick the cone scales together. The seeds are locked in tight and the cones can’t open unless they’re exposed to VERY high temperatures–the type of temperatures that forest fires generate.
These pines LOVE forest fires! (How many of us can say that about the fiery trials we face in our lives?) In fact, they eagerly await the fire! Why? Because that is the only way they can release their seeds to proliferate new trees. In fact, these pines are famous for colonizing post-fire landscapes. Continue reading
