Skip to main content

Roots

             It was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, for its roots went down to abundant waters. (Ezekiel 31:7)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Last night, I happened to find an article about winter resting. I’ve only just begun to read it because I want to move very slowly through it and contemplate it rather than just read it. I’ve considered the idea of living seasonally before but something the first bit of the article said is striking a major chord: During the winter, plants store their energy in their roots. I’m not sure that’s scientifically correct, but my heart is saying, “Oo, that’s good.”

So, Root:

the part of a plant which attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers:

the basic cause, source, or origin of something

From the verb form comes the idea: establish deeply and firmly.

This morning, I have more questions than answers about roots. There are some obvious connections – putting energy into the things that make you what you are, nourishing you, and holding you in place. What those are for each person may be different. Several ideas come to mind: working on the various parts of the person as described by Dallas Willard: spirit (heart/will), mind (thoughts/feelings), body, social relationships, and soul. Another possibility involves storing energy in things that feed our lives: our jobs/careers, our homes, our families, education. I’m already in the house that is my root and trying to get back to basics. It wouldn’t be the first time I returned to something that provided stability, so it could involve returning to my roots. And since the energy stored in the roots is not simply put in storage – it is put in storage for use in the spring, it could involve education, investing, or other preparatory activities.

This is all brainstorming, and I invite you to brainstorm with me on this first day of winter. What are roots to you? How might you store energy in them?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more