Deeply Rooted

Storms come and go. The sun rises and sets. There are births, deaths. There is war. There is peace. If the colossal tree, pictured here, could speak, what stories it might tell. 

We live in but a small moment of time compared to most of creation. The deeply rooted tree serves as an example. It can conceivably live for hundreds of years, much longer than any of us. The massive trunk supports the tree and allows for the transportation of nutrients. The leaves support photosynthesis--the food generated by sunshine and carbon dioxide--for the tree to thrive. The roots typically spread out well beyond the the canopy of the tree, which can extend hundreds of feet. 

If there is one thing that can be said about nature, it is that nature is diverse. To survive, this must be so. Lack of diversity will destroy an ecosystem. Lack of diversity in Ireland's food supply caused potatoes to develop blight, wiping them out. The result was the great potato famine in the mid 1800's. In the 1950's, the most exported banana in the world succumbed to a fungus, leaving no available fruit of its kind.   

Diversity has allowed the human race to thrive, too. Early societies that practiced inbreeding saw the resulting deleterious effects: physical and mental anomalies and diseases.         
 
As an example of diversity in nature, using the tree as an example, not one leaf is the same. Each branch is different, too; however, the leaves of every tree and its branches connect to the same root system for nourishment and sustenance.  

The Lord Our God who made Heaven and Earth also intended for us to be diverse. We were uniquely created. Different from one another. Even fingerprints are individualized. God created us to be equal, too, but sadly, there are some who do not share this view.    

We were meant to be connected to the One who created us. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." He is the source of all that we need.  

The canopy of a tree often has the appearance of an umbrella. Spiritually speaking, this can be a reminder that we are covered by God's love and compassion.    

Storms come and go. The sun rises and sets. There are births. There are deaths. There is war. There is peace. What stories we could tell about the times we have--and are--going through. 

My prayer is that all will come to know the saving grace that comes from the connection to "God's root system." He is our source for strength, spiritual well-being and eternal life. Thanks be to God for the Salvation he offers through His Only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who died, was crucified for our sins, and ascended to Heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father.

God's love for us...is deeply rooted.   
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