Deep Roots

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Matthew 13:6 (NIV)

Not a gardener, I have always joked that my thumb is not green, but red (opposite on the color wheel from green). My spring planting strategy is "plant and see," meaning I plant flowers, fairly randomly, and see what grows. This year I invested in food for the flowers, and they actually grew better than before! Amazing, I know, that a little time and effort can actually pay off.

Horticulturists also say that a strong wind does a young tree's roots well. The wind gives the tree something to fight against, causing the roots to grow deep. The parable that the verse above is from is about a farmer scattering seed. Some lands on rocks, some is eaten by birds and others land in shallow ground and grow quickly, yet die because of their lack of roots. I have seen young trees in windstorms stick it out, where their older, larger counterparts were quickly uprooted, thanks to shallow roots. We, too, can become quickly uprooted when we fail to develop our God-roots. We can live years without developing our "underground" network of support. Busyness shifts our focus from the unseen roots to the here and now, centering our priorities on the things we can see. We may grow up to be beautiful trees, but like my neighbor's giant pine, we quickly tumble over in even a mild windstorm.

So how do we develop a good root system in our life? Taking time to lay the foundation with our relationship with Christ is the first step. We have to invest in reading and studying the Word. Cementing that with solid friendships and support networks with other believers can deliver life-sustaining nutrition to our root systems in times of need. They also help anchor us when the winds of life start to blow. Our knowledge that Christ is our center, that He will carry us through those storms, and that we have friends that also understand us and become His hands and feet during those times will help attach us to the rich soil we have cultivated ourselves in.

As easy as it is to live with shallow roots, making sure our branches and leaves look pretty to passers by, it is dangerous to do so. All those leaves will wither and pass, disease can strike, and without a good root system nourishing the rest of our tree, we can quickly die. Build your spiritual tree, starting below ground, and you will flourish and grow, rooted strongly in Christ's rich soil.

God, grant me the time and patience to develop strong roots in You. Help me also to be a strong root to my friends, giving them a good hold in You in times of struggle and happiness. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher