The Process of Protosynthesis

UV 1439/10,000 The Process of Protosynthesis

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55 v 13

We can change certain things on the outside but it is God alone who can transform us from deep within. Most humans end up like a prickly thorn, hurt and hurting others. But once we believe, trust and obey Him, we become like a fir tree- strong, tall and graceful. We will not be shapeless like a thorn bush but God’s fire of passion will alight upon us and light us up without consuming us like it happened to the burning bush at Mount Sinai. Of course, money does not grow on trees. But money, power, fame, faith, life grows like trees. Get the seed, plant it, water it, nourish it , nurture it, love it, fence it, harvest it, consume it, share it, enjoy it, transplant it, multiply it. Get the seed, plant it.... If we plant the trees of money, power, fame, these trees will seem initially like a fir tree, strong, tall and stable but these only flatter to deceive. These trees will one day be cut down and cast into fire. Instead, if we plant the seed of faith, the gospel, it will grow like a mighty cedar on the mountain side. It will grow in the soil and slopes provided by our own problems, challenges, difficulties and weaknesses.

If we plant the seed of faith, our lives become the responsibility of the Lord. He will water us and provide us the nutrients, the shelter from storms. He will provide His Sonlight that we can absorb to trigger a process of creativity of the highest order or “proto-synthesis” just like plants take in sunlight during photosynthesis. The byproduct of this process is the oxygen of hope that we emit as we exist, move and live in Him. He will fence and protect us. Our lives and life experiences, both good and bad will be testimony or evidence of the goodness of the Lord. He will rejoice as we grow stronger and taller and fulfil our potential to be Christ-like. Instead of being an ugly thorn tree that we started out life as, we will become in the end like a beautiful myrtle tree. Our leaves or our words will be used for the healing of nations and our fruit or the lasting qualities of head and heart imparted to us by the Spirit of God will nourish others in hope and strength.


Last week as I was participating in a book release, I read a quote of the great realist thinker Chanakya, “ Don’t be too honest for the straight trees are cut first.” He seemed apprehensive at the great risks of being too honest or straight in an imperfect and dishonest world. He does not say however how honest one should get in order to avoid being cut down. In contrast, this uni-verse encourages us to be more and more righteous till we attain the very righteousness of Christ. It promises that we will be an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. He will give us the wisdom, the grace and the protection to secure us in our human vulnerabilities. The process of leadership may be summed up: plant a seed, nurture it, grow it, develop strength, get rid of inherent weaknesses, develop various branches and bear a variety of fruit. Each month we should dedicate it to a new habit or venture or quest so that we will be like the fruit trees described in God’s great garden that produce a different fruit every month of the year.


Prateep V Philip