Rings of growth
You can tell a tree’s age when you cut it it down perpendicular to the trunk. From Wikipedia:
For the entire period of a tree’s life, a year-by-year record or ring pattern is formed that reflects the climatic conditions in which the tree grew. Adequate moisture and a long growing season result in a wide ring. A drought year may result in a very narrow one. Alternating poor and favorable conditions, such as mid summer droughts, can result in several rings forming in a given year.
This analysis of dating a tree by looking at the growth rings is called dendrochronology. If someone were to perform a dendrochronology on me, what would someone see? When they see soon-to-be 26 rings, what will the rings say about me? Will the be many narrow rings reflecting spiritual dry or unfruitful years? Will there be wide ones? Are there patterns of alternating poor and favorable conditions? More importantly are the rings trending towards favorable growth? Can you tell if this tree has tapped into the aquifer so it remains well watered even in trying times?
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
- Psalm 1:3