The Root of it All

During a recent trip to San Diego, CA, Mike and I were walking around our son’s neighborhood and saw tree after tree with its roots exposed - and not just small pieces! Look at this picture! It is called a Moreton Bay Fig and was a curious site to see with their long roots above ground. I didn't know what God was showing me, but I knew that the research had to begin!

The following scripture, which refers to a “tree”, appeared to me 3 times in different venues over the following weeks.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (KJV)

Man should trust God in the way that this tree lives - keeping its roots in the Living Waters (the Bible) and through study with like-minded believers AND to not be anxious when tough times come (heat or drought) but continue to yield new fruit. We must keep our position of trust in God and stay connected to the Living Waters so the obstacles that the enemy throws at us will not deter us from continually producing His fruit.

As I sought to learn more about “roots”, I found that they have 2 main purposes:

- To absorb air, water, and nutrients from the soil to sustain the tree’s life

- To anchor the tree firmly into the ground.

I purchased a book recently entitled “The Magic and Mystery of Trees” written by Jen Green. Here are some surprising facts I learned about trees in a forest and their roots:

- “Trees are mysterious things. Recently, scientists have found out that the trees in a forest work together. They make friends and support one another. Trees look after their neighbors, and mother trees pass food to their children and older trees within the forest.”

- “If a tree is damaged and starts to die, its neighbors will pass it food to keep it alive.”

- “Roots spread through the soil to form a hidden web. Forest neighbors stay in touch with one another and pass food to each other through their roots.”

- “Life in the natural world is tough. It’s easier for trees to survive when they help one another.”

WOW! Trees helping one another? Passing food to each other? Making friends and supporting each other?? Amazing! So roots are the anchor which stabilize the trees and help each tree to survive! What does that sound like spiritually?

For me, God is saying that we need to stabilize and maintain ourselves in Him - every day, every hour, every minute - by keeping our minds focused on Him. Cease worrying!

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (NKJV)

God is also telling us that we need to love each other and take care of each other as demonstrated by the root networks.

Roots - who knew? This amazing underground (or above ground), intricate network brings life to each tree on our planet but with little to no recognition for such life-giving work.

From "40 Days of Decrease" by Alicia Britt Chole:

“Roots are, historically, perhaps the most humble of God’s creations on earth. They require neither acknowledgment nor praise. Their reward is reaped when the living stand upon them and reach for the fruit the roots made possible.”

May we all humbly continue to produce good fruit by being kind and compassionate and taking care of each other.

Next time I go hiking, I’ll look at those trees in a different way! And I’ll also stop fussing at the tree roots which make mowing the grass in our yard a little rougher!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel