Roots
EXCERPT FROM: The Necessity of Stress | Heads and Tales at Marin Academy[if lt IE 8]> <link rel='stylesheet' id='highlander-comments-ie7-css' href='https://s1.wp.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/highlander-comments/style-ie7.css?m=1351637563h&ver=20110606' type='text/css' media='all' /> <![endif] Jetpack Open Graph Tags
StartFragmentThe Biosphere 2 project was created as a research tool for scientists to study Earth’s living systems, and it allowed scientists to play with farming and innovation in a way that didn’t harm the planet. One of the most profound discoveries made by the scientists had nothing to do with a cure for some new disease or a new way of farming land. Rather, the discovery had to do with the wind’s role in a tree’s life. The trees inside Biosphere 2 grew rapidly, more rapidly than they did outside of the dome, but they also fell over before reaching maturation. After looking at the root systems and outer layers of bark, the scientists came to realize that a lack of wind in Biosphere 2 caused a deficiency of stress wood. Stress wood helps a tree position itself for optimal sun absorption and it also helps trees grow more solidly. Without stress wood, a tree can grow quickly, but it cannot support itself fully. It cannot withstand normal wear and tear, and survive. In other words, the trees needed some stress in order to thrive in the long run.EndFragment
-Great story, here are my thoughts...
What does this tell us as Christian's, if you didn't get the analogy, let me tell you ... we need stress. We need the test to have the testimony, we need to be pushed to be stronger, and we need to withstand the winds of this world to stand tall and strong. How do you keep strong roots, despite the storm?
Be rooted in the word of God. Spend time reading your bible, studying the word, and talking to God. I recently was speaking to a group of ladies and we talked about the distractions that keep us from our quiet time with God. As women we deal with many roles, stressors, and things tugging and pulling at our time - we must make a concerted effort to put time aside for God.
I haven't posted in some time, I was having a season of feeling overwhelmed. Worried that as my role has grown at work and church that perhaps I took on too much. So I took some time and talked to Him. The response was simple, the message clear, "Put Me first." God, Family, Ministry, Career. Put God first. Simple words, not always a simple execution in today's world. So I started planting my roots in the word. I didn't change anything about my career or my ministry, I just chose to put Him first. The result - peace...
So, do not settle for shallow roots, grown by occasional reading, drive-by prayers, and God on a check off list for the day. Dig deep, roots that are seeded and developed so far they are untouchable and strong.
