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?