In a training session years back, I was asked, “If you’re a bird, what would you like to be?” I immediately replied, “eagle” and I am able to explain why easily. One colleague was asked, “If you’re a tree, what kind would you be?” I muttered my own answer: oak. As far as I know, it stands for durability and strength, which I thought was my character.
But my colleague said, “Olive tree.” I shrugged off that answer because to my mind that’s not as strong as my oak tree. Besides, I know that the olive tree is just a small ordinary evergreen tree. Some even say that it’s a little bit “ugly,” and at certain seasons of the year even a little “messy,” with olives littering the ground beneath the tree!
It’s an academic knowledge of the olive tree. I didn’t know any more than that.
Fast forward 15 years later. I was starting to immerse in the Holy Bible. I was actively listening to preachers and teachers. I learned that olive oil was used by kings and priests in sacred ceremonies when there was an anointing to be conducted.
It is first mentioned in Scripture when the dove returned to Noah’s ark carrying an olive branch in its beak (Gen.8:11). Since that time, the olive branch has been a symbol of “peace” to the world, and we often hear the expression, “extending an olive branch” to another person as a desire for peace.
Rewind to three years ago. It was my first visit to Israel, and I was fascinated by the olive trees which covered the terraced mountainsides in Galilee. In the Garden of Gethsemane, I found really old olive trees with gnarled trunks.
Interestingly, their trunks are hollow! From their looks alone, there is no arguing that olive trees are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world.
The olive tree is associated with royalty and rulers because it provides the oil used to anoint those favored by God including kings. I visited the tomb of King David in Jerusalem and we were told that Samuel the prophet was told by God to anoint David, a young shepherd boy then, whom He had chosen to be king of Israel.
I also learned that olive trees live a long time and even when cut down, they still sprout from the root. No wonder the oil of pressed olives make the lamps in the Tabernacle burn continually. Its long life, dependability and versatility speaks a lot about strength.
During our pilgrimage, we were shown where the oil and grapes were pressed. We were told that to extract the precious oil, the olives are shaken and beaten.
As my knowledge of the olive tree grew, my appreciation of the tree increased proportionately. The other day, the bible verse I got during my daily devotional time was Psalm 52:8: “But I am like an olive tree growing in the house of God; I trust in his constant love forever and ever.”
That was the clincher. I started to reflect if I have been an authentic olive tree growing in the house of God.
Am I a bringer of peace just like the dove who returned to Noah’s ark carrying an olive branch on the 370th day after the flood?
Am I worthy to be anointed with olive oil as a child of God?
Do I shine with God’s love when others see me just like how the olive oil lights up the lamps in the Tabernacle?
Is my foundation in life built on trusting God and His love and as deeply rooted as the olive tree’s roots that dig deep into the earth and thrives for a great length of time?
I don’t just hope that my answer is ‘yes’ to all these questions. I will work for it. Even when life batters me with sacrifices and trials, I will remember that the shaking and beating of the olives produced the holy oil from it.
As we observe the Lenten season, may we also be “shaken” up like the olive tree in order for us to repent of our sins, become converted and to change our way of life to conform to God’s standard of living. Unless we acknowledge that our roots are with God, then we cannot fully grasp who we are.
May we reflect deeply that we are nothing without God. Just like the hollow trunks of the olive tree, we will always feel empty inside if we do not acknowledge God to be the center of our lives. The olive tree represents each of us and God wants us to remember always that we are created by God with this purpose—to contain Him only, not our fame, wealth and glory .
Today, when I am asked what my favorite tree is, I know you know that the oak will not be my answer anymore. Praise God!
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