Radical

Fourteen years ago we had some dear little olive trees growing in pots on our verandah. They filled out a little and grew slightly taller over the next eight years of pot life; nothing major, but happy enough I would say. About six years ago they were taken out of their pots and planted into the garden soil. I stood beside one this morning and craned my head to figure out how many times taller that tree is than me.

Where you send out your roots makes all the difference.

As a sapling going from it’s plastic black bag into the nourishing earth, we would be crazy to stay root-bound in the control, confines and small-living of our own selves. Self-idolising bonsais believing that everything is good because that is all we have ever known.

The first organ to appear when a seed germinates is called the radicle. This initial root reaches into the soil like an anchor going down into the sea. A refresher lesson on Britannica reminded me of the primary functions of a root: ‘stability, absorption of water and dissolved minerals and conduction of these to the stem, and storage of reserve foods.’ How audaciously delightful:

I search for the source of life

Seeking substance and vastness

Reach to connect

Abiding

I’m just a seed

Living

And growing

Bearing copious fruit and thriving

Me in the earth the earth in me

The One who created the very earth that holds all the forests 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.” (John 15 v 5) Christ in me (Colossians 1 v 27) and my life hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3 v 3) We send the very core of ourselves into the unending heights and depths of who He is.

Our stunted spirits, failing to thrive, destined for death…

An offering of a transplant, a miracle exchange, a rebirth.

We are stretching roots out whether we realise it or not. Whoever got the idea that reaching for God would limit and restrict? It’s radical behaviour. Nobody can predict exactly what will happen but when Life enters in, ain’t no pot gonna be big enough y’all!

Colossians 2 v 6 & 7 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.