The view through the tree... leaves...and fruit.

When climbing a tree safely be sure to choose branches that are able to support your entire weight. Wear cloths that are closer to the skin to avoid accidental snags, and always consider your path back down as well. Some places may be easier to get up into, than down out of.
When climbing a tree for the experience however the rules are a little different: remember that the branches closer to the top are going to be weaker... that doesn't mean that all of them won't hold you, find that one. wear whatever you want, when you get a hole in those favorite jeans, at least you'll have a great story to tell every time you wear them. Don't look down. If you think about going down you can't think about going up... and worst case scenario the fire department is only a phone call away.
I climbed a tree today. I got pretty high up too... though not as high as I could have, and definitely not as high as I would have during former seasons of my life. Tree climbing for me started in our southern California house with the eclectic array of trees that made their home in our backyard, I remember there were at least five, and three of the five were perfect for climbing. An only child before the days of guitar hero, and cable TV left me few options for entertainment, and this climbing business was the past time of choice.
Climbing a tree is pointless really... unless you are the only girl in a group of guys that is willing to ascend to a certain height, well than it has a point. Or if you're in ninth grade and your boyfriend wanted you to get down a foot and a half lower and you can see that you are really making him upset, well then it has a point too. Or if you are eight and you are pretty sure that you are finally tall enough to get from that branch to the roof of the house, well than it definitely has a point. But the problem with climbing is that at some stage you do have to turn around and come back down.
I think that sometimes we think of faith like this too. Am I wearing the right cloths for this adventure? (God I don't look nice enough to talk to them today). Is that branch going to support me? (If I give that up am I still going to be provided for?) If I don't make it onto the roof how am I going to get back down? (If Jesus just doesn't come through on this one, what's my plan B?). But just like the only way to really climb a tree (and get to the point of the whole adventure) is to just do it. So it is also the only way to follow Jesus. Go. even when it makes no sense. Climb. even if you don't know how (or if) you're getting down.

I came to Christ because I was miserable. I needed him to fix me up. What I found in him wasn't just a "fix" but a totally new life. After this He very simply said, "you aren't getting your life back Jen". I realize now what that really meant.

I chose to go up with Christ, to climb, at first because there were rabid dogs chasing me at the bottom of the trunk, and maybe somewhere deep down I thought "I'll just go this high until the dogs leave". but that's never what he wanted for his beloved. He wants us to see the top. Hebrews 6:7-? ...we are confident of better things concerning you, things that accompany salvation. God wants us to climb that tree with out fear, and not looking for a way to get ourselves out. He gave us this tree of new life, and he shows us how to climb! God I want to see the top! I want to see the view!