The Beauty of Knotty Pine
Several years ago, a young carpenter was working alongside an experienced carpenter. Their job that day was to finish the wall of a uniquely styled office space, and when finished, add shelves to the wall. The younger carpenter thought it odd that the owner demanded knotty pine for the wall, and the shelves to match. Building shelves from knotty pine wasn’t new to the younger man, but finishing a wall of that same product was different. As the two worked together, their conversation taught the younger one some valuable lessons.
As you would expect, the knots in knotty pine are not always conveniently placed! When the studs in the wall are set on precise sixteen-inch centers, even hanging the wall boards horizontally will not always ensure the knots in the pine will miss the studs! You can’t knock the knot out without leaving an ugly hole in the wall, and trying to drive a nail through the knot usually results in a bent and stuck nail, or a split board, or both! Either way, knotty pine isn’t always “cooperative.” Yet, once the wall covering was finished, and the shelves completed, the polishing of those boards with a smooth coat of polyurethane made them beautiful: and not so strangely, the most pronounced part of their beauty was the knot! It was an astonishing lesson learned.
Have you ever considered how much like knotty pine our lives are? Most of us cannot afford the higher-priced clear pine boards (those without knots). If we’re building something where the studs, rafters, joists, etc. are going to be hidden, we usually purchase the less expensive lumber and don’t worry about the knots. But we nonetheless realize the strength of the wood we use! We further know that each piece has its separate function, and only when joined to the other pieces and fitly framed together does the structure come together in its full strength and beauty! You can cover it with wallboard, paint, stain, or other coverings, and hide it from view if you wish, but it still serves its purpose even with the knots!
We Christians are comprised of the more common, yet very sturdy “knotty pine” personality. (See 1 John 1) For most of us, there are knots where others want to drive nails. They can’t knock out the knot, and to drill it and then drive a nail, usually doesn’t work well either. So, the only alternative is to polish the knot with the rest of the board and make it all look beautiful! It’s not so strange that when the project is completed even with knotty pine, it is among the most beautiful and natural in appearance. And that’s what is so beautiful about the Lord’s church: we’re comprised of souls who may have a few knots, but instead of the knots being removed, or altered by drilling and nailing, they have been blended with the rest of the construction and polished in such a way as to display its full beauty!
Indeed, we’re not perfect (1 John 1), but God takes the common and when He finishes, makes that common the most UN-common of all things: a beautiful product suitable for His purpose and eternal delight!
You Have to Water It
Not long ago, a beautiful Red Maple tree was purchased and planted in a prominent place within a man’s yard. He had planted seedlings before, only to have them die or be accidentally destroyed. This time he planted a six-foot tree, guarded its base well, and dug what he thought was a large enough hole to properly plant the tree and secure it from danger. Unfortunately, a storm blew it sideways, and though the storm did not uproot the tree, it did disturb the root ball as it was less than a week since planted. The owner successfully righted the tree and secured it with a post and rope, but noticed the top of the root ball was now exposed and dry. He contemplated what could be done, and determined to add topsoil, covering the root ball more extensively, and further protecting it from harm. But the owner soon learned he still had to water the tree!
Several days had passed since a good rainfall, and so the owner made sure to take a few minutes every other day to thoroughly soak the ground surrounding his newest tree. While doing so, he observed his other trees; seedlings planted two years and more past. The Poplar seedling has grown to nearly two feet tall since he planted it and is very healthy. He never needs to water it, for the root system for it is well established. The white pines he planted more than nine years ago are now ten to twenty feet tall respectively, and he has trimmed them! The Rose of Sharon tree, the Lilac Bush, as well as the Lincoln Rose are likewise hearty. Most of all, the Pink Dogwood planted in memory of his mother was filled with beauty this spring! He remembers the abundance of care he had to administer for the first three years of its life. This Red Maple will survive, the Lord willing, but not without water.
The inspired apostle’s words come to mind every time the owner waters his tree: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:6) Paul wasn’t speaking of trees but of the gospel into the hearts of souls. Seeing them become strong and useful servants of God would take much more than the mere planting of the gospel into their hearts. It would take watering, i.e., nourishment of kind and loving attention to their spiritual needs in a harshly dry drought of truth surrounding them in their world. Further, it would require God to give the increase.
That situation hasn’t changed! We Christians can either plant or water, but both need to be done to ensure the continuation of the Lord’s church in any locality! Further, we must recognize God gives the increase, not us! We can’t take credit for the growth, only for the planting and watering! When all these things come to fruition, we can then appreciate the beauty of God’s handiwork: the growth of His gospel within sturdy souls that began as seedlings but have grown to strong and blooming pillars of His kingdom! Indeed, we’re thankful to simply have the joy of planting and watering!