To The Core: Where Do Core Values Come From? (1)
Poet Joyce Kilmer famously wrote I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.1 Its hard to disagree, especially if youve ever walked down a forest path. There is something majestic and beautiful about a tree. Consider for a moment the wonder of an apple tree:
An apple tree is a metaphor for core values. Each part of the tree represents a different factor in the development of core values.
When you look at an apple tree its what you cant see that is vital. A tree has an extensive system of roots that provide the nutirents the tree needs to flourish. The roots represent the various sources of your core values. These include your parents, significant other adults, friends and peers, media, and especially life experiences.
The first part of the tree you see above ground is its base. It is the critical component as it provides the support the tree requires to stand tall and weather any storm. The trunk of the tree signifies the foundation of your life. It is the focus of your life – what you build your life around.
The trunk blends seamlessly with the trunk of the tree. It is the primary component of the tree rising to a height appropriate to the type of tree. The trunk of the tree represents you.
From the tree trunk the branches extend at differing intervals and directions. The branches offer protection and comfort to anyone under its span. The branches are similar to your core values. They are an extension of who you are as a person.
Finally, according to its season, apples hang from the branches. The fruit is the end result of all the other parts of the tree. The fruit is like your thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. It is the end result of the inputs from the roots, the foundation of your life, and the core values that are seen in you as a person.
In the next post well take a look at each of these components, but especially the sources of your core values.
© 2012 Designed to Serve®
1″Trees” was originally published in Trees and Other Poems. Joyce Kilmer. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1914.
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
