April 15 – Rooted in the Storm

The old cedar tree in this image has endured every Lake Superior storm of its lifetime, and its weathered bark tells the story. Rounded, wave-washed stones surround its base, softening the blow of pounding surf while it leans into another fierce wind.

Northern White Cedars along the rocky North Shore are remarkably resilient. Relentless gales, bitter cold, and heavy snow test them year after year. Yet they survive because their branches bend without breaking, their roots grip tightly into cracks in the bedrock, and their slow growth produces dense, durable wood. Harsh conditions do not weaken them — they strengthen them.

This cedar at Split Rock is likely around 150 years old, a quiet witness to generations of storms.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth…” — Isaiah 55:10

This tree does not fight the elements; it abides where God planted it. Its strength comes from staying rooted. In much the same way, when we remain grounded in faith through life’s changing seasons, endurance grows quietly within us