If someone were to ask, "What is the world's largest organism," what would you say? Maybe the giant sequoia or the blue whale? Some scientists are suggesting that it may be a 106 acre, 6,000 ton stand of genetically identical quaking Aspens that have been cloned naturally from a single root system in Utah. There are no breaks in the interconnected filigree of roots from which some 47,000 Aspen stems grow. Dr. Jeffrey Mitton of the University of Colorado said, "If you could look into the soil and trace the roots of all these things that look like independent trees, you would find that they are in fact connected by a common root system." The result he said is a single organism "that can literally climb over mountains and across meadows."

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Ephesians 4:3-6, 16, NIV
 
The words above written by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speak of the unity and the diversity of the "one" church of Jesus Christ. In thinking about images for what the church is like, maybe these Aspen trees remind us that while we all have different expressions of our Christian faith, we are all interconnected at our "roots." No matter who we are or where we come from, we share a common bond because of our faith in Christ.

Prayer for Today 
 
Thank you, God, for calling us together to be united as your church. Enable us to celebrate how you have made us different, while remaining connected to one another through Jesus the Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.