Thirty years ago, our daughter came home from school on Arbor Day with a small sapling of a pine tree in a plastic bag. The school had given each fifth grader a tree to plant on their last year in elementary school.
She carefully, and proudly, picked its new location and planted it in the ground along our boundary where it sat and grew all these many years.
Recent years of storms have taken down many a pine tree in our area causing damage to homes, cars, and people. We knew the time was coming to make a decision as the roots of our pine tree ran shallow.
Last week, we had the men come to take it down. While the tree itself was healthy and vibrant, its shallow roots were not going to be strong enough to keep it anchored in the ground should a storm hit it just right.
We watched the process happen over the course of a few hours. It isn’t something I am likely to forget for quite some time.
You see, the fact that the tree was healthy has struck home. It was the roots who were the cause of the problem. They had not run deep but instead chose to grow wide.
And in so doing, they would not have been stable or steadfast enough to keep the tree standing firm in adverse conditions.
There is no question we are living in days which are bringing about changes in our society, communities, and churches. If we are going to stand firm in these shifting times, our roots are going to need to go down deep in the truth of God’s Word.
“Into Your Word, we’re digging deep
To know our Father’s heart.
Into the world, we’re reaching out
To show them who You are.”from “Thrive” by Casting Crowns
So what does Scripture tell us about roots?
- Without roots, our faith will wither away. “And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away” (Mark 4:6, NASB).
- Our holiness is dependent on our roots. “If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too” (Romans 11:16, NASB).
- Â Roots bring strength. “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (Ephesians 3:17, NLT).
- Roots establish and grow hearts of gratitude. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7, NASB)
I’ll be missing that tree for a long time. The empty space will be a constant reminder to grow my roots deep.
If we are going to more than just survive hard times,
if we want to thrive in the midst of difficulties,
then we must carefully tend to the health of our spiritual roots.
Interestingly, a blogging friend also experienced the loss of a tree this past week. Lisa Burgess shared her thoughts on the loss of her tree in her post “When It’s More Than An Empty Hole” HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
* The above photos were taken by me as the process unfolded.
Today I am joining …
We felled a big tree years ago, and for a long time the sky felt empty in the spot where it had stood.
Lord, deliver us from shallow living!
It’s amazing how empty it feels. Every time one of us pulls into the driveway we have the conversation about what shall we plant there in the fall 🙂
And yes (!), may we be delivered from shallow living!
Preach it, sister.
What a poignant picture–that even a healthy tree can topple over if its roots aren’t deep and firmly entrenched in the soil. We’ve seen very large trees that have come uprooted and fallen in a storm (not in our yard, but around town), and it’s amazing how shallow a root system they had. How we need to sink our roots into Him.
Barbara, we, too, have been seeing on the news trees that become uprooted during a storm due to their shallow roots. This is what led us to make our decision. It also brought a sobering lesson in tending to our own spiritual roots.
Well said author! May we sink our roots deep into God’s word, so it might sustain us during the coming storms. God’s blessings ma’am; and thank you for the great lesson.
Thank you, J.D. He will surely sustain us by His Word in every storm.
Thank you for this encouragement, Joanne, “If we are going to stand firm in these shifting times, our roots are going to need to go down deep in the truth of God’s Word.” We can focus on a health of a tree, but the roots are what sustain it for the long-haul.
Our focus was always on the health of the tree. Several in our family thought the tree was probably dying. We were quite surprised to discover it was quite healthy. The only thing wrong was it very shallow roots. May we tend to our roots so we are able to walk with God for the long-haul. Love that you worded it that way.
Oh to have roots that grow long. Praying mine need to improve. And today’s world makes me sad to see people’s hearts in tatters with anger at sometimes who knows what. Hugs n thanks for sharing.
I agree that there are many hearts that are torn and growing shallow. May ours go deep and stand the test of time and storms to the glory of His Name.
Loved this post, Joanne! I remember over 50 years ago when I came home on Arbor Day with a sapling too! I’m not sure if it’s still at my childhood home, as I left there long ago. I have had many a tree rmeoved though, most recently a huge oak. Each time there was an issue with the roots or health of the tree. Such good points for us to ponder here today, thank you!
I love that you also received a sapling on Arbor Day. One of the men even wondered if schools are able to celebrate the day any longer. Our tree has brought us such delight and now a powerful lesson to remember it by.
This really spoke to me. We can be healthy and look great but if our roots are shallow, in the end it won’t matter.
I want my roots to be sunk deep in His word.
Jerralea, you have said it well. It is not always as it appears. May we be certain to sink our roots down deeply in Him. Blessings!
Great message Joanne. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
What a good analogy. May my roots continue to grow deeper!
Amen!
Blessings,
Jennifer
May my roots always go deep so I can be Stay tapped into the River of Life! It take intentionality to grow roots deep and not wide.
It truly does, Anita. May I always remember this day!
Joanne–I just happened to read Lisa’s right before reading yours! Isn’t that interesting that you both lost trees? You each had a different but God-glorifying take on the loss of your trees. May we dig deep into God’s Word so that we can continue growing and reaching out!
Amy, I was so surprised to discover Lisa had also lost a tree. Her insights blessed me as well. God surely had much to say through these trees 🙂
Oh, I know how you feel, Joanne! I am missing our tree every day. And it was because of the roots. The limbs and leaves were also a problem, but they could have been pruned again and again. But the roots were a growing threat to the foundation of the house. Such spiritual lessons are always found with trees!
Lisa, I was so surprised to read of your tree and blessed by the lessons you shared. The timing of both of our experiences has had me thinking and examining my own roots since.
“Roots” came up in church this morning too. A good word and concept to dwell on, thanks for these insights!