(Photo Credit goes to Pixabay. com user KBOutdoors.)
Have you ever heard the sound a Quaking (or trembling) Aspen makes when its leaves quiver in the wind? Last Fall I discovered this inspiring sound on a walk. To me it’s very much like the exciting rush of pouring rain.
I have an evergrowing facination with, trees. This passion spells adventure! Thus, I’ve taken a liking to doing a little discovery and observation to further my wonder.
The Aspen’s audible leaves turn a wonderful vibrant yellow in the Fall. 🍂🍂🍂🍂
Then they drop their foliage to reveal beautiful bare branches.
However, what I find even more fantastic is their roots, some of which are almost as thick as their trunks!
I also have an appreciation for their stylish mossy boots. Very chic. 😎
Ah, but not all is always what it seems. Dig a little deeper and you’ll REALLY get to the root of the matter.
I would like to introduce you to Pando the Trembling Giant.
I don’t have a photo. Pando isn’t one of the locals. However, Quaking Aspens are native to Canada and are the most widely spread tree in North America.
Pando, however, is more than a tree. Pando is a colony of trees that covers 43 hectares (or 107 acres) in the state of Utah. This accomplished organism has become a thicket of 40,000 trees that stem from one single tree.
The Quaking Aspen reproduces via a process called suckerering. In the right conditions an upright shoot will grow into what appears to be a tree–in and of itself. These trees are called ramets (or clones). The root system of Pando is believed to be several thousands of years old.
An Aspen’s roots are quite resilient. If a forest fire decimates a population of these robust deciduous trees they will be the first to shoot up and reforest an area. Eager beavers! 🦫
As a believer and follower of Christ, this root system brought to mind discipleship in Jesus. Every believer is an offshoot of the same tree: Jesus. We become a thicket (or a family) united in the same goal: to know Jesus and make Him known. Often on the surface we can look and sound quite similar. We should all have characteristics of Jesus. Sure we like to complicate things sometimes. None of us are perfect. We can make it about ourselves and lose our focus and fire. Sometimes those brush fires get loose and burn us down to ashes. But those roots! Those wonderful roots remain. This means that we shall shoot up again because we are rooted deeply in our faithful Jesus. He is forever our strength and joy. Therefore, we proclaim His goodness much like the Aspen makes its victorious applause with its lovely trembling leaves. 👏 👏 👏
Jesus is Faithful ❤
You’ve transplanted them into your heavenly courtyard,
Psalm 92:13-15 (The Passion Translation)
where they are thriving before you,
for in your presence they will still overflow and be anointed.
Even in their old age they will stay fresh,
bearing luscious fruit and abiding faithfully.
Listen to them! With pleasure they still proclaim:
“You’re so good! You’re my beautiful strength!
You’ve never made a mistake with me.”
He Won’t Lose Even One of Us ❤
But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us!
2 Timothy 2:13 (The Passion Translation)
But everyone my Father has given to me, they will come. And all who come to me, I will embrace and will never turn them away. And I have come out of heaven not for my own desires, but for the satisfaction of my Father who sent me. My Father who sent me has determined that I will not lose even one of those he has given to me, and I will raise them up in the last day.
John:37-39 (The Passion Translation)
Pippi's Poetry 
Stellar post! Great to hear from you again, Tina.
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Thanks so much Gavin! It’s always great to hear from you as well. You made me smile.
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What a beautiful post! I love trees too. And now I want to hear the amazing sound you described. I really love the analogy of how our roots are in Jesus. We can weather the storms because of Him. 🙌🙏
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Maybe one day I can record a video of it. It probably won’t be quite the same on video as standing beneath the trees. But it’s a wonderful sound. I just have to wait patiently now for those new leaves to grow. 🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃 We CAN weather the storms because of Jesus. 🙌 🙏I appreciate your friendship sweet sister. ❤
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Thank you very much for another profound post.Perfect for every disciples.God bless.Take care.🙏💐
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Thank you so much Francis. I appreciate the encouragement and the visit. You take care as well. God bless. 🙏💐
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Amen and visiting your site is truly a pleasure.God bless.Take care.🙏💐
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This is beautiful. Thank you Tina for being such a ray of sunshine. The stronger we make those faith roots, the taller we stand. ❤️
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Thank Gary! Yes, those strong roots make for a firm foundation, keeping us steady on our feet and looking up towards heaven. Keep being Super! ❤
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He is the vine and we are the branches. Love your post sweet daughter. Love you
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He is. ❤ Glad you enjoyed it. Love you too dad!
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Tina, I love this post! Aspen’s are beautiful trees, we don’t have them nearby, but I remember them from visits to Colorado. Their leaves blowing in the wind are beautiful, as well as their calming fluttering sound. I enjoyed your photos of the yellow leaves, mossy boots, and strong roots. May we all be deeply rooted in Christ, united in love, and thrive, like the Pando colony. 💖🍂✨😍🌺
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Thanks Jeanne. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was such a pleasure to share. The Aspen’s leaves are definitely beautiful and calming. Amen to being deeply rooted and united in love so we can thrive like Pando. I hope the rest of your week is blessed with beautiful and calming thoughts. 💕🌳🍂🤗💐
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And like the intermingling aspen roots, Christians are made stronger through interdependence. Great thoughts, Tina! I live in the wrong part of US to enjoy the quaking aspens, but I’ve heard of them. Around here, our miracle tree is call mesquite. It’s claim to fame is quickly taking over pasture land. Left to itself, it will make good cattle grazing land disappear. I’m not sure what the modern day parable is here, but I’m sure there is one.
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Yes, that’s so true about interdependence. Iron sharpens Iron. We keep each other standing strong. Hmm… that would be an interesting one to find the parable in. Thanks David!
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Trees are amazing, and, like people, each type has its own characteristics that differ from others. I had a friend years ago who was originally from Alberta where there were very few trees. When she moved to Ontario she had a real interest in learning about trees. I learned a great deal from her–how to tell what kind of tree it is by its bark, blossoms and of course its leaves. We even found a monkey puzzle tree in one of our big parks. It’s really a lot of fun to study trees. Love your photos.
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It truly is a lot of fun to study trees. Thanks Diane. I’m glad you discovered the wonder in learning about the beauty that’s all around us.
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This was fascinating. Thank you Tina. Gave me a new image for a familiar concept of remaining in the vine too. I love their boots too.
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Thanks Dawn. Yes it definitely reveals a different spin on the vine. In Jesus were not only benefited by being so closely connected to our Creator, but were also closely connected with each other. There is strength in those connections.
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amen to that, sister!
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