Are You Well Rooted?
Sitting on the deck of our home, taking in the sight of our curly willow trees, you would never know they were devastated by a freak winter storm just a few months ago. New leaves and branches are bursting out all over. In February no one would have predicted they would still be standing, let alone full of lush green leaves. One tree had already been given a poor prognosis after a strip of bark was torn away by a rutting buck. The expert talked about removing it because, he said, its death was imminent.
Our area, like many on the West Coast, has been experiencing years of drought. Our fire seasons are deadly, and many trees are dry and brittle with shallow roots. As two feet of heavy, wet snow fell on our area in February, we could hear branches snapping throughout our backyard forest. By morning, many trees had fallen on houses and utility lines, knocking out power throughout the county. Some folks were without power for two weeks. The branches of curly willows either lay on the ground or dangled from tree trunks. The beautiful winter photos from the night before were a stark contrast to what stood before us.
Thankfully, these are the trees that we water on our own. Unlike the forest trees, these are part of our landscaping, tended to by my husband who soaks the roots during the driest times of the year. Even though what we saw appeared devastated, the trees were held firm by roots that have grown strong and deep.
Likewise, there have been seasons in my life where the emotional winter felt long and drawn out, and only my hidden roots kept me from falling.
Scripture compares a person who trusts in the Lord to a healthy tree:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17: 7 – 8 (NKJV)
The health of my spiritual life relies on a constant flow of living water. When Jesus stood at the well with the Samaritan woman, (see John 4) he offered living water to her in response to her spiritual drought. The things he knew about her drew him to minister to her. She found herself in the presence of his love and immediately shared his message with her community. She found herself soaking in the love of her Savior. New life began for her and for many others in her village as they, too, chose to follow Christ.
During the driest times of my life, I lost my way. Temporal things became attractive and eternal things confusing. As I found my way back to my faith, consistent reading, prayer, meditating on Scripture, and following hard after Christ, my roots began to reach deeper.
Having a healthy faith doesn’t keep us safe from storms. Devastating circumstances will blow through our lives, wreaking havoc on our emotions, testing our strength and resolve. But as barren as we may look and feel, if we stay planted, growth will return. Like the lush leaves returning to our curly willows, life will return after our own stormy seasons.
Oh, and that February storm? It had an added benefit: Oregon’s drought is officially over. We just need to keep our roots watered.
is a passionate storyteller who writes of faith, hope, love, and food. She’s madly in love with her pastor husband and mama bear to two daughters. Grace is a fairly new concept she is exploring with her life and words. Mama Jem believes we should live gently and love passionately. You can find more of her writing at jemelene.com.
Photograph © Jeremy Cooper, used with permission
