Roots

We have growing on the banks of a creek, near our church, the common water reed. The stream is full of these reeds that thrive in mud and mire. They won’t grow anywhere else. If the ground dries up, they die. The flexible reeds bend with every wind coming their way. When the creek is high, the current pushes the reeds entirely flat. They owe their existence to the mire and depend upon their present circumstances to survive. Any change, any less moisture, and they cease to exist.

How many people are there like these reeds? They are happy and flourishing as long as they have what they want. All their joy is derived from their present circumstances. However, let a drought of happiness or relationships come their way, and they die emotionally and spiritually. They know little of the strength of living through the seasons of life. Because they live in a state of unrealistic expectations, they are often disappointed. They feel institutions fail them, and they blame people for their failures. The people and circumstances around them so influence them that they don’t know how to stand alone. They know so very little about putting down deep roots so their souls can be sustained by something besides the surface water that is so polluted and seasonal.

Putting roots down is hard, boring work. You have to stay still and stay put! You can’t change jobs, partners, or friendships whenever you feel unhappy. You can’t judge people by some unrealistic standard with no forgiveness. You have to accept that these are people in my life, my wife, my husband, and my friends. I have to make this work, so I will figure out how to do that. That is called putting down roots. Relationships grow through adversity.

The relationships in your life will begin to yield fruit if you put down roots. Letting your roots grow deep allows them to bring up nutrients and moisture that don’t exist on the surface. What comes up from the deep roots will be life-sustaining strength. It will allow you to develop an identity that will not be swayed by the winds of opinion or pushed over by the current of public pressure. Come drought or high water, and you will still be standing.