On Thursday, July 13th, I finished clearing a blocked path in my favorite woods. Half of a massive, bifurcated oak had taken a dive. The next day Jane discovered a fallen pine in our own yard. Thankfully it’s on the back part of the property and can wait until cooler weather. Summer heat has elevated my procrastination levels.

The tall, straight tree had given no hint it might topple. Another nearby pine, which is much larger, has been precariously leaning since we moved here in 2001, yet refuses to yield to gravity. Apparently It has a more supportive foundation.

The downed pine was close to a soggy bottom which stayed wet longer than usual this summer. With soft ground all around, the root system finally let it down. The once perpendicular tree became too heavy for what was holding it up. Now it’s flat on its back.

The Leaning Fence of Pinehurst perhaps experienced a similar problem. I don’t know the folks who own it, so this is just speculation. I think it was earlier this year when several acres of pasture were fenced. The creosote posts were perfectly aligned and the wire stretched tightly between. I admired what appeared to be a quality installation.

One section, however, soon strayed a bit off kilter. Not long after the job was completed, a hundred feet or so developed a noticeable slant. I have no idea of the cause, but the cure probably involved substantial work.

Our former home on DeLiesseline Drive had a different fence issue. Legendary fencer Howard Harris put up a chain link enclosure about 35 years ago to keep our two cocker spaniels in the backyard. Howard’s work was exceptional, as always. He put enough concrete around the posts to withstand a category five hurricane. But we overloaded the fence with greenery.

Trumpet honeysuckle fully camouflaged the wire within a few years of being planted. My wife, by some accounts, reportedly suggested pruning the hearty vines, but that’s too far back for accurate recall. In addition to the weight of tangled overgrowth, wind could no longer easily pass through the open links. A storm came along and several posts bent at ground level, just above the concrete.

After correcting the slouch, I drove a long iron pipe through each hollow post down into the ground about two feet and left four feet above. Then I poured concrete via a funnel into the posts’ interior and filled  the remaining space. The original foundation was solid, but we had overloaded the posts.   

Perhaps the best known example of a building with a foundational issue is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s reportedly tilted about four degrees, a process which began during construction in the 12th century. Soft ground couldn’t support the tall building’s weight on one side.

As work continued through the 14th century, the lean gradually worsened. Stabilization efforts began in 1993 and today it’s securely positioned. The tilt was not fully corrected, which was intentional. That would have disappointed tourists plus required a new set of brochures.  

Whether it’s a fallen pine, a leaning fence, or a renowned tower, a good foundation is essential. The same is true of faith. 

Jesus, in Matthew 7:24-27 talked about the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who didn’t. Absence of a sound spiritual foundation may go unnoticed for a long time, with little indication things are amiss. Eventually, however, storms take a toll. The damage may not be readily apparent in this life. Some revelations are delayed until the next.

The pine looked sturdy with a promising future, but its weighty top was too much for a soggy bottom. The Leaning Fence of Pinehurst has been repaired, or I’ve grown used to it.  And The Leaning Tower of Pisa is likely to perch at the same slope for ages to come. The Pisa Chamber of Commerce embraces its less than upright standing.    

Structural foundations are important, some more so than others. A spiritual foundation, however, must be rock solid or the master of deception will undermine it. Soft ground may seem okay for a time, but it didn’t work out for a fallen pine.