1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
The Hidden Network
The Coastal Redwood is the tallest living thing on earth. They can grow over 350 feet tall—the height of a 35-story skyscraper.
Logically, they should fall over.
Unlike most massive trees, Redwoods have incredibly shallow roots, often going only 6 to 12 feet deep. In a violent storm, a tree of that size with such a shallow anchor should be easily uprooted. But they stand for thousands of years.
Their secret is connection.
While their roots don't go deep, they go wide—extending up to 100 feet horizontally. Underground, the roots of every Redwood intertwine with the roots of the trees next to it. They lock together, creating a massive, hidden biological net.
They literally hold each other up.
The Greek word Paul uses for "build up" is oikodomeo, which implies constructing a house. It is structural. Encouragement isn't just giving someone a compliment; it is acting as a root system. It is locking your strength into theirs so that when the wind blows, neither of you falls.
You cannot grow tall if you stand alone.
Who holds you up?
We all have a "Redwood" in our life—someone whose roots have helped us stand during a storm. Don't let it go unspoken.