Planting Shade Trees
SAGRADA FAMILIA CHURCH, BARCELONA
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”
- Greek Proverb
Towering 566 feet above Barcelona’s streets stands the Sagrada Familia Church. Staggering in its complexity and imagery—the church is an architectural masterpiece unlike any in the world.
More than three million people visit the Sagrada Familia Church and it remains the globe’s most reviewed tourist attraction on TripAdvisor.
Remarkably—construction on the church is unfinished.
Antoni Gaudi, a visionary architect, began work on Sagrada Familia in 1883. After giving the rest of his life to guide the construction process—Gaudi died in 1926 with only 25% of the work complete. Knowing his life’s work would fall to another to complete, Gaudi left behind detailed plans.
With a target completion date in 2026, the Sagrada Familia will shed her scaffolding and cranes to stand as the tallest—perhaps most majestic—church building in the world. Nearly 150 years after its construction began.
Gaudi suffered from terrible health his whole life. He only fell in love with one woman—who repeatedly rejected him. In 1926, Gaudi was struck and killed by a tram on a Barcelona walkway. Mistaken for a beggar at the scene of the accident, one of humanity’s most transcendent artists wasn’t identified until much later.
GOD’S WORK IS NEVER RUSHED
One man gave his life to build something others would enjoy. He persevered through personal trial and public ridicule from artists including Pablo Picasso.
His contemporaries, dubbed Gaudi “God’s Architect.” Gaudi became famous in Barcelona for saying “my client can wait.” His mission was to bring glory to God through architecture and God’s work should never be rushed—even if the people commissioning, designing, and building the church would be long dead before seeing its completion.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9, ESV
God is unbelievably patient.
His pace seems sluggish from our perspective. Why hasn’t he answered or acted? Why am I still struggling with this or that issue? Just do something already.
When you choose to follow Jesus, the journey will not be quick or painless. He leads by the still waters and through the valley of shadow. But like a potter shaping clay, his patience hand molds us into the image of Christ through all seasons of life. Organically. Under gentle leading. Without fear.
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
- Romans 8:25, ESV
Will you trust God to transform you from the inside out at His pace?
Will you trust God with your dreams? Your desires? Your plans? Your children?
Will you trust God enough to plant the seeds of time, prayer, and acts of love? Even if you don’t live to sit under the shade of what grows—someone else will.
