Mangrove Church

When I was in 6th form (year 12 to you youngsters) I studied the life cycle of the mangrove for a class in Biology.

Now to most people this was an absolute snore fest, to me it was a glimpse into the mysteries of the truth that God has embedded into nature.

No, I am not a tree-hugging, dope smoking, 'God-is-in-everything' preaching hippy. I was just simply amazed at the gracious and elegant strength that these largely ignored creations show.

Today I received and email reminding me of what I had learned from these swamp inhabitants and I thought I would share with you, you lucky thing you, the beauty of the mangrove.

Did you know that the mangrove start their life living below the water? (This is a purely rhetorical question mind you because I am aware that there is only a very slim possibility that you are even remotely interested in these plants enough to actually have learnt anything about them prior to this blog)

The mud that they tend to grow in is extremely soft and chances of survival are slim to none if they do not find a sheltered cove to put down roots.

Once they have established themselves the first thing that they do is grow their roots out horizontally until they connect with the roots of other mangroves living near by.

The mangroves then twist their roots around each other to effectively create a floating platform just below the surface of the sticky mud.

So when you see a mangrove swamp it is not just single plants growing near to each other; they are actually depending on each other for survival in the dangerous conditions in which they live.

It is also among these roots that an entire eco-system finds safety from the rising and sinking tide. FIsh, crabs, and all sorts of other life forms can be found here swimming in the water that the mangroves filter and clean for them.

I love this plant!

Not only is it the unsung hero of the tidal eco-system but it has so much it can teach us.

Mangroves only survive if their community is strong and healthy.

Even a weak mangrove can survive as long as it is connected into the group.

We humans are so like this. Even though we are our own individual person, it is only within a community that we survive and find our being. Without the support of others we find ourselves swept out to sea or drowned in the rising and falling tides of life.

We need each other just as the mangroves do!

It is also this community of plants that allows other life forms to flourish.

If we are part of a healthy and strong community we allow others to grow and remain safe in the shelter and protection of a community that can act as a filter of the rubbish that is out in the world.

Jesus had two commandments; "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself".

If we took this to heart would we act as the mangroves do?

Would we act as a raft that others can hook into to stop from sinking?

Would we protect and nourish and reach out to those in our community and any others that came near?

Would we act as a place that would allow people a place to find safety and nourishment?

Would we become a mangrove church?