It's been a crazy year of supply chain shortages that have created scarcity of many items and higher prices in most everything. I saw an article this week that suggested that there is a shortage of live Christmas trees this year which should cause an increase of prices between 5 and 15%. I guess I am glad we have a "fake" one.

Actually, there have been Christmas tree shortages off and on for the last few years, and it has nothing to do with a lack of employees, or pandemics, or politics. The likely suspects of things like drought or fire are not the reasons for the shortage either.

Experts say that the primary reason can be traced back to the recession of 2008, when fewer people bought trees — a trend which continued for a couple of years. Since fewer were buying, tree harvesters planted fewer trees, thinking the need was dwindling.

However, as the economy began making gains, business picked up again, but short-sighted harvesters weren’t prepared. They had forgotten that there is a difference between a temporary lull and a long-term shift in consumer behavior. And in the case with growing trees, there are no shortcuts. You have to wait for the tree to grow at its slow and predictable pace.

I am reminded of the old Chinese proverb: The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

In other words, it sure would have been better to think ahead, a long time ago, and not miscalculate recessionary trends when no matter what you do you can't buy back the time and hurry up the growth process of trees. The past cannot be changed, but the future is for the taking, beginning now.

There is a lot of wisdom in that ancient proverb, about learning from the past, but not living in it. Remember, in the Lion King, when Simba is moping about the past, and Rafiki hits him over the head with his stick?

Simba says: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?

Rafiki replies: It doesn't matter. It's in the past.

Simba says: Yeah, but it still hurts.

Rafiki continues: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it.

It's a good lesson in life, whether that be from tree planting, or avoiding getting hit in the head with a stick. As we deal with the ‘now’ all around us, we must not lose our focus on what God has for us in the future. As individuals, as families and as a church, we must continue to look ahead, and plan forward, with an expectation of God's work in and through our lives.

That's really what Advent is all about. Looking back, at Christ's coming, and looking forward, to His coming again. And living in the meantime with anticipation, and obedience, living out His calling to impact the world around us for His sake. That is our mission.. 

I am praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken