阅读经文 

在不列颠哥伦比亚省，当学生从高中毕业时，他们会获得以该省官方花树命名的“茱萸”文凭。当地很多人也把毕业称作“拿到了茱萸”。刚搬到哥伦比亚时，我还在想，“学生毕业时真的能得到一棵树吗？” 原来，毕业证之所以被称为茱萸，是因为春天学生毕业时，那些树都会开满花。所以在这一带，茱萸树已经成为一种成就和成熟的隐喻。

《诗篇》一开始就描绘了一个为神忠心而活的人生命中的成就和成熟。在这种情况下，这个人被比作一棵树，而不仅仅是接受一棵树！

诗篇开头的树是我们在伊甸园看到的生命之树的呼应。想像一棵强壮的树，深深扎根，浇灌充足，结满健康的果子，叶子不会枯干。这棵树很讨人喜欢，它的果实能提供持续的、令人愉快的食物。它为鸟类和其他生物提供阴凉和家园，它还能净化空气，稳定河岸。

诗篇第一篇中的这个形像能帮助我们学习智慧的生活方式。如果我们与主同行，我们就会成为神造的成熟的跟随者。当我们说出我们的赞美和忧伤，当我们提醒人们注意神美丽的创造和祂永远充满生命的道路时，我们就像一棵栽在溪水旁的树。

When students graduate from high school in British Columbia, they receive a Dogwood Diploma, named after the province's official flowering tree. Many of the local people also refer to graduating as "getting your Dogwood." When I first moved to B.C., I wondered, "Are students really getting a tree when they graduate?" It turns out that the diploma is referred to as a dogwood because those trees are in full bloom in the springtime when students graduate. So in this area, the dogwood tree has become a type of metaphor for accomplishment and maturity.

The book of Psalms begins with a picture of accomplishment and maturity in the life of someone who seeks to live faithfully for God. And in this case, the person is compared to being a tree, not just receiving one!

The tree at the beginning of Psalms is an echo of the tree of life that we saw in the garden of Eden. Picture a strong tree with deep roots, well watered and full of healthy fruit and leaves that don't wither. This tree is pleasing to look at, and its fruit gives sustaining, delightful food. It provides shade and a home for birds and other creatures; it purifies the air and stabilizes the streambanks.

This image in Psalm 1 helps us to learn the way of wise living. If we walk in step with the Lord, we become the mature followers God created us all to be. When we voice our praises and sorrows, and when we draw attention to God's beautiful creation and his way to full life forever, we are like a tree planted by streams of water.