California Almond Trees

For years, I have enjoyed driving through the valleys of California while admiring the beauty of the almond orchards, especially the almond blossoms in springtime. But long before I saw the orchards, I loved eating almonds in my favorite candy bar. Just one bite of an Almond Joy and you understand why the word joy is part of the name.
 
I was flying into California for a concert, and some friends, Gary and Kathy Oostercamp, picked me up at the airport. The Oostercamps are almond growers, and I love asking them about their
orchard and learning about how equipment and harvesting has drastically changed over the years. We discussed nutrients and pruning, and how their water supply comes from the snowcapped mountains in California.

They took me to their orchard to watch their machinery in action, and my favorite machine, hands down, was the tree shaker. It had an arm that embraces the tree trunk, and in three to five seconds, it shakes the tree, causing all the almonds to drop to the ground. If I had owned one of these as a young boy, I would have been in a lot of trouble.

After watching their process, one thing I realized is the correlation of a healthy almond tree and a healthy spiritual life. The tree needs to be fed, and we need nourishment from God’s Word. The tree needs plenty of water, and we need living water. The tree needs to be pruned and so
do we. So, if you feel like you are being shaken or pruned right now…be patient…God is not finished…you are about to yield a great harvest for the Kingdom.

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