As I unpacked my thanks tree, out spilled papers filled with notes of revelation and expressions of my heart, but also spilled countless letters from friends and family. As I read these incredible notes of encouragement - words of beauty and life - tears of joy poured down my face. How did I ever come to be so blessed? I've been moved to tears many times within the last six months upon this very thought. What did I ever do to reap endless blessings?
The emotion provoked through these letters hinted at something deeper. How were these letters connected to this trunk of thanks, these branches of fruit? Of course! They are my roots. How could I have missed this symbolism? For how could I give thanks without being given to?
You know the saying, "Which came first? The chicken or the egg?" It reminds me of giving and thanks. It's as if one is the byproduct of the other, and they cannot be separated. For if you know you have been given everything, then you have everything to give. If you know for certain that you will be continuously given to, if the roots will always feed into the trunk, then you aren't afraid to let out thanks, to give out fruit freely.
So what about Good Friday? If God is a perfect giving circle as the trinity, if he knows that he will continually be given to within his mysterious relationship as God, if he is like roots feeding into trunk-trunk into fruit-fruit into roots, than giving his life to us on Good Friday is possible. No, he's not afraid of running out! For he's a never ending source! And to think, he gave us his entire life when he died. He told us to die with him so that we could have that beautiful intertwining root to fruit, fruit to root relationship. He invited us to say thanks for his Spirit every day, by then receive everything so that we can give everything to others: to jumpstart this intertwining root-fruit business on earth through us!