How To Become A Mighty Oak.

I keep an acorn on my desk.? Weird, I know. ?

If I glance over the display on my desk, to the landscape outside, I see a glorious oak tree about 40’ tall.? It’s an explosion of green hues in summer, its red leaves all winter signal its resilience despite bitter blizzards.

That small acorn has everything it needs to become a mighty oak.? It’s a reminder that everything we need to blossom into our greatest potential is already locked into our DNA.? It’s been there since forever.

But it’s not going to happen without some love from nature.? It’s got to be planted in rich soil. It needs rain.? It needs nature’s nurturing to become everything it can be. Becoming a mighty oak requires external energy.? Without a support system, it could end up on a desk, just serving as a reminder of what could be.

Who you are is less about who you think you are and more about becoming what you were meant to be.? Scary, right?? Through that lens if you want to be the next Taylor Swift your natural talents might take you there.? But if your singing talents are lacking, you know the outcome.? The world has a way of telling you who you are.? But you have to tap into that.? Instead of feeling knocked down, know the world will birth your best.

Similarly, while the acorn will become an oak, it won’t be easy.? Fires, wind, heat, animals, and drought all conspire to either kill the oak or make it stronger.? That tough love is essential.? There’s no doubt, the firestorms in our lives make us stronger.

And the acorn will only become an oak.? It’s never going to be a pine tree, coneflower, or palm.? Apply that to your life.? If you acknowledge that your destiny is encased in your DNA, how will you unlock it?

Good Lord, are you telling me my life is predetermined? ?

I’m suggesting that your best life is found in flourishing within your natural talents.? Discovering your true destiny is finding what comes naturally, and doing what you love.? Observe your surroundings, the people in your life, your habits, and your desires, they choreograph to lead you to your promised land.? Acceptingly, If you’re an apple tree, be one, and the best you can be at it.? That’s the path to becoming most fruitful.

The alternative is attempting to become an olive tree when you were meant to be an oak.? A certain introspection is required to grasp one’s talents and leverage those to move the world. Failing that, suffering ensues.? Analysis, quiet listening, loving guidance reveal the way.

A reflection

In 1412, in the small village of Domrémy, France, a girl named Jeanne d’Arc—known in English as Joan of Arc—was born to a humble farming family. From a young age, Joan showed a quiet strength and an unshakable faith. While she had no formal education and spent her days helping her family tend the land, she possessed a natural gift: unwavering courage and an ability to inspire others.

At the time, France was embroiled in the Hundred Years’ War with England, and the French people were demoralized. By the time Joan was 13, she began hearing what she believed were divine voices—messages from saints like St. Michael and St. Catherine. They told her she had a mission: to help France drive out the English and restore the crown to Charles VII, the rightful king.

At just 16 years old, Joan decided to act. With no military training or status, she boldly approached local commanders and demanded to be taken to the French court. While many dismissed her as a deluded peasant girl, her conviction was so fierce and her presence so compelling that word of her mission spread. Eventually, she was granted an audience with Charles VII.

Incredibly, despite being a teenage girl, Joan convinced Charles and his advisors that she was sent by God to save France. Given armor, a white banner bearing the words “Jesus, Maria,” and a small army, Joan joined the frontlines. Her natural leadership and fearlessness were impossible to ignore. She rallied the demoralized French troops, leading them to a stunning victory at the Siege of Orléans in 1429. This turning point marked the beginning of France’s resurgence.

Joan became a symbol of hope, a living embodiment of the idea that ordinary people—no matter how small or humble—carry within them extraordinary potential. Her presence inspired soldiers to fight harder, and her faith reminded a broken nation of its strength.

After helping Charles VII secure his crown at Reims, Joan’s role as a leader and visionary was undeniable. However, in 1430, she was captured by the English and put on trial for heresy. At just 19 years old, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, but her spirit could not be extinguished. Her final words were a prayer: “Jesus, Jesus.”

Decades later, Joan was declared innocent, and in 1920, she was canonized as a saint. Today, Joan of Arc remains a symbol of courage, faith, and purpose. She proved that a single person—when fueled by their natural gifts and an unshakable sense of calling—can inspire armies, change the course of nations, and leave an eternal mark on history.

Joan’s life reminds us that within even the most humble of beginnings lies the seed of greatness, waiting to grow into a mighty oak.