"late-leafers" 03-25-2026

It’s spring. In fact it’s been an early spring, evidenced by the blooming of azaleas, wisteria and crepe myrtles. Crepe Myrtles are planted along the driveway of our church and all but two are green and leafing out. I’ve been concerned about these two trees, they look dead. I looked closer this morning and noticed tiny buds beginning to sprout. They’re not dead, just “slow-leafers”. I don’t know why they mature at a slower pace but by mid-summer they’ll be indistinguishable from the early leafers. The author of Hebrews is writing to “slow-leafers”. (Hebrews 5:13 - 6:1) Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity. They’re not dead, they just haven’t trained themselves in the ways of Jesus, in the way of righteousness, “slow-leafers”. Leaves are a sign of a healthy, maturing tree. Am I maturing, becoming more and more like Jesus? Am I “leafing-out”? Are You? PK