What is the difference between a tree and a forest?
Tree is a single item. Forest is a group of items (trees).
Both have a significant purpose.
One is narrowly focused, paying attention to the many details of the item.
The other is perceiving the interconnectivity of a multitude of items.
Today, in life, there are benefits to being highly specialized. When we have a challenge in life, we want counsel from someone who can understand and help us resolve the issue timely in the best way possible. We will pay someone more when we have confidence they will give us clarity on the best way to deal with a trial in our life.
We focus on a tree when our personal life (job) is significantly impacted by the tree. This could be positive or negative. Some examples include: a romantic relationship, dealing with tariffs, helping a single student with their homework, getting a splinter out of your foot, appreciating a fine piece of art or music, etc.
A forest is a collection of trees. Seeing, understanding, appreciating the bigger picture, a larger perspective, how items are joined together. Examples: a community of people, net profit in a business, a teacher in a classroom, personal health and wellness, visiting an art museum, etc.
In each of these examples, there is a Bigger Picture which could be focused on. A nation of people, the economic impact in a community, a school, hospital, the many types of music.
At each level a forest becomes a tree. The collection of items becomes more and more general.
As we focus on the ”tree” God has placed before us, it is helpful to remember “we don’t know what we don’t know.”
In times past, more attention was placed on receiving a wider education, understanding the interconnectivity of life, and learning how to learn. There was an emphasis on the foundation for learning (reading, writing, arithmetic) and the Big Picture (God, character, community).
Someone recently provided an example to me of the difference in seeing the Bigger Picture vs. focusing on a single item.
We were discussing Christ’s admonition in John 17:21, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
He studied all the world religions and decided to become a Christian. This is the Big Picture. Later he learned there are now over 4500 denominations within Christian faith. A lot of trees.
This emphasized to me there is a time and place to be united in our faith to not hinder people from coming into the Body of Christ. And there is a time and place to know your personal convictions in how to live your life before a holy and just God.
A reminder from Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
There are times to focus on the Big Picture, and there are times we need to focus on the details.
Let us be united in Christ and as a nation as we pay special attention to where and how the One True and Living God calls us to serve.
