Wednesday, March 24 – Roots … Foundation of Life – By A. Hills
Psalm 52:8-9 … I am like a green olive tree
Jeremiah 17:5-8… they shall be like a tree planted by water
Ephesians 3:14-19 … you are rooted and grounded in love
Colossians 2:6-7 … rooted and built up in him
Olive Tree Roots – While travelling in Greece tracing the footsteps of St Paul, our guide told us about the olive trees and their roots. He explained to us how families treasured the roots of the olive tree and how the roots were passed down from family member to family member. The roots are more than their genetic material, they carry the livelihood, history, and traditions for all generations.
Our roots in faith bear the strong support that we need in troubled times. Writing in the middle of our COVID 19 pandemic lockdown, I have learned we need to foster growth that supports our roots. As roots need to be nourished by streams of water, we need to be nourished by the love of God. We desire to be bearers of good news and to keep that love flowing from our deepest roots.
While I know I need to be rooted in God to be able to show God’s love to others, being in close quarters with family can make this hard at times. We become vulnerable – aware of how easy it is to hurt one another. Being a person who likes to be around people, I miss those other connections that refresh my life as water refreshes roots. As roots grow, they stretch out into new soil and bring back nourishment.
The roots that we nourish enable us to have a firm foundation as we grow into the future. These roots help to establish us in a system of support and encouragement that will foster growth and well being as we grow in our lives. Being rooted and grounded in God’s love, our faith will grow.
For Reflection and Journaling:
1. How does God establish my roots?
2. How have I watered other people’s roots?
Meditative Prayer:
As you feed my roots with water,
feed my soul with your unconditional love
which strengthens and supports me in my daily walk. Amen.
Week of Guided Prayer Network, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council, The United Church of Canada, 2020.