Life and Times: Life from the Fire

Share the following: What images come to mind when you think about trees and fire? (Forest fires, trees burning and dying, blackened trunks, and desolate landscape) Because we’ve witnessed these devastating effects of forest fires, we naturally assume that fire is always harmful to trees. But scientists have discovered that sequoia trees benefit from enduring fires in a number of ways:

• Fires cause the cones, which may live up to ten years without intervention, to drop to the ground.
• Fires expose the soil, which is then fertilized by the ashes from the fire, so the seeds from the cones can germinate.
• Fire thins the heavy canopy, allowing the required light required to reach the seedlings.
• Fire kills the undergrowth, removing the shade-loving trees and plants that take water and nutrients from the sequoia seedlings.

Point out that scientists have discovered that using controlled burns within the sequoia forest areas actually promote growth of the forest rather than destroy the forest. Ask: In what ways do difficult times either strengthen or weaken people?

Explain that today’s lesson will challenge learners to consider how the trials and temptations of life can provide opportunities for strengthening their faith rather than weakening or destroying their faith.