5) What Composes the Heart of a Tree?
Heartwood
The heartwood is the innermost part of the tree, from the roots, through the trunk, into the branches, that provides its strength and support which allows the whole tree to stand and grow. This would be our core beliefs (thoughts, heart and actions) that are not actively growing but give us the foundation for what is actively growing. Our heartwood beliefs are more firmly founded, most resistant to change and decay. The heartwood would also be accurately described as strength as found in Deut 6:5, in place of heart as seen in Matthew 22:37.
Sapwood
The Sapwood is the living wood that is actively growing, which connects and transports the water and nutrients inside the tree, from roots and branch. This in our analogy is our beliefs (thoughts, heart and actions) that are actively growing and being shaped by the constant interconnection between our mind, heart and actions.
Cambium
The Cambium is the layer under the bark that causes growth in the sapwood layer. It is the Holy Spirit working inside of us, causing growth in belief (thoughts, heart and actions) throughout the whole tree.
Bark
The Bark is composed of two layers, that together form the outermost and visible layer of the tree. It protects from outside toxics and predators, provides identification, as well as grows and adapts as the tree grows. In the tree analogy, the inner bark layer would be how we identify our faith by using terms that are detailed, dynamic, specific and are changing. While the outer bark layer would be how the world identifies us as followers of Jesus. The outer bark also provides protection from outside disease by blocking heresy that would fall outside the unifying wrapper of Christian orthodoxy. Regardless of theological differences in details, the history of Christian doctrine can provide a safeguard to keep dangerous understanding at bay, just like the tree bark.
