A reflection on sin, wandering, and the God who still waits based on the short-film Forevergreen.
I recently watched an adorable short-film called Forevergreen with my kids. It was well made, with pixar-like quality, and more importantly not too long which is perfect for someone like me with the attention span of a goldfish.
Short though it was, the scenes from the film kept flickering through my mind for the rest of the day. What was it about this animation that struck a chord in me? Maybe I saw a part of myself in that bear, maybe I saw my (ahem) kids in the bear…
Just in case you didn’t watch it, here’s a short recap, but please go and watch it if you haven’t.
Recap
There once was a bear who lived beside a pine tree.
The tree fed him pine nuts each day and sheltered him from every storm.
The bear was safe. The bear was loved.
But one day, the bear found a bag of potato chips.
They were new. Crunchy. Exciting. Addictive.
Suddenly, the quiet pine nuts felt small and ordinary.
The pine called him back.
But the bear—hooked on the chips—grew irritated and stomped away in search for more chips…
not realizing he was walking away from the one who cared for him most.
My Musings
I don’t know the creators’ exact original intent—but I couldn’t help seeing a biblical pattern woven into this little story.
The Story & The Biblical Pattern
| Story Element | Biblical Parallel |
| The pine tree cared for the bear | God lovingly provides for His people |
| The bear enjoyed the pine nuts | We experience God’s goodness and blessing |
| The bag of potato chips | Temptation / sin — quick pleasure |
| The bear becomes hooked | Sin deceives and enslaves |
| The tree asks the bear to stay | God calls us back through His Word |
| The bear gets angry and leaves | Sin makes the heart stubborn and resistant |
Sin promises more — but gives less. It slowly hardens our hearts against the One who truly loves us.
5 Ways Sin Hardens the Heart
1. Temptation offers a sweeter taste — but it lies
“Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Then desire… gives birth to sin…” — James 1:14–15
The potato chips represent the deceptive attraction of sin — quicker, easier, more exciting than the steady provision of God.
2. Sin replaces gratitude with entitlement
“…although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks…” — Romans 1:21
The bear stopped being thankful for the pine nuts. When we stop being thankful, that’s the beginning of heart-hardness.
3. Sin whispers: “God is holding out on you.”
This is exactly how the serpent tempted Eve:
“Did God actually say…?” — Genesis 3:1
Sin makes a false god out of the chips—something temporary disguised as a provider.
4. Sin pushes away the very One who loves and protects
“My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
and dug for themselves broken cisterns…” — Jeremiah 2:13
The bear walked away from shelter and love—just as we often pursue emptiness while turning from life Himself.
5. When corrected — sin makes us defensive
“He who hates reproof will die.” — *Proverbs 15:10
“Do not harden your hearts…” — *Hebrews 3:8
When the tree called him to stay, the bear grew angry. That’s exactly how sin reacts when confronted. A hardened heart is choses rebellion over humility.
The Hope in the Story
Just like the bear — God knows we wander. The story could have ended with the bear lost forever, but Godmakes a way home.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
— Ezekiel 36:26
The forest is burning. The bear is trapped. There is no way out—until the tree makes one. In a moment of selfless sacrifice, the tree uproots itself and stretches across the fire to become a bridge of rescue. It cannot stay where it was. It must leave its safe ground so that the bear can escape.
That scene beautifully mirrors our reality. Our world is also burning—broken by sin, fear, distraction, and self. Just like the bear, we cannot save ourselves. We need a way across. We need someone to come to us.
Jesus did exactly that. He left heaven, stepped into our world, and gave up His life to make a way where there was none. As He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6). The tree in Forevergreen becomes a bridge—and Jesus became The Way.
When we return, we don’t find an angry pine tree… we find the Father running to meet us.
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion…”
— Luke 15:20 (Prodigal Son)
But one thing stands in the bear’s path: his junk food. He can’t hold on to the chips and still reach for the tree. To be rescued, he must let go. And that’s true for us too. Our “junk food” may not be potato chips—but it might look like distractions, idols, habits, fears, or comforts we cling to instead of Christ. Scripture calls us to lay them down: “Let us throw off everything that hinders…” (Hebrews 12:1). Rescue often begins with surrender.
As the tree lays down its life so the bear can cross over, the gospel comes into sharp focus. The film ends with the powerful verse: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). Sacrifice is at the heart of real love—and that love is at the very heart of the gospel.
But the story doesn’t end there. A pinecone appears—small, fragile, full of promise. The bear plants it, nurtures it, and watches it grow into a tall tree that shelters his new family. This points to resurrection, renewal, and the hope that springs from sacrifice. Because of great love, we are called to live differently—gratefully. We don’t just cross the bridge; we grow under its shade and care for others who come after us.
Love laid down its life—so that life could rise again.
Final Thought — Thanksgiving Guards the Heart
The bear didn’t leave the pine tree because it failed him. He wandered because he forgot the goodness already in front of him. That is often how sin begins in us too—not always with rebellion, but with forgetfulness. We forget the rescue, the sacrifice, the love that reached for us first. We forget the bridge that was built at the highest cost.
Sin promises flavor but steals our freedom. It offers temporary pleasure while quietly pulling us away from the Father who loves us. When gratitude fades, our hearts slowly harden, and the “potato chips” of temptation begin to look more appealing than the Savior who laid down His life for us.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
– John 15:13
But Jesus didn’t simply make a way—He became the way. His sacrifice opened the path to life, and gratitude keeps our feet on it. Thanksgiving softens the heart, helps us notice God’s daily mercies, and reminds us that rescue always came at a cost. Love laid down its life so that we could live.
That’s why thankfulness is more than a feeling—it’s protection. It keeps us close to the cross. It guards our hearts from wandering. It helps us remember that no greater love exists than the love that died to bring us home.
I loved this short-film so much, I made a free mini-devotional for my family. I’d love to share it with you too!
