Deep Roots

The following entry is today's devotion from Springs in the Valley. My copy of this devotional book was my great grandmother's and it's a cherished part of my personal library. This is a companion book to the more well known Streams in the Desert.

"Trees that brave storms are not propagated in hot-houses!

"The staunchest tree is not found in the shelter of the forest, but out in the open where the winds from every quarter beat upon it, and bend and twist it until it becomes a giant in stature.

"It requires storms to produce the rooting.

"Out on the meadow it stands to shelter the herds and flocks. The earth about the tree hardens. The rains do little good for the water runs off.

"But the terrific storm strikes. It twists, turns, wrenches, and at times all but tears it out of its place. If the tree could spek it might bitterly complain. Should nature listen and cease the storm process?

"The storm almost bends the tree double. It is wrath now. What can such seeming cruelty mean? Is that love? But wait!

"About the tree the soil is all loosened. Great cracks are opened up away down into the ground. Deep wounds they might appear to the inexperienced. The rain now comes in with it gentle ministry. The WOUNDS fill up. The moisture reaches away down deep even to the utmost root. The sun again shines. New and vigorous life bursts forth. The roots go deeper and deeper. The branches shoot forth. Now and again one hears something snap and crack like a pistol: it is getting too big for its clothes! It is growing into a giant! It is rooting!

"This is the tree from which the mechanic wants his tools made--the tree which the wagon-maker seeks.

"When you see a spiritual giant, think of the road over which he has travled--not the sunny lane where wildflowers ever bloom, but a steep, rocky, narrow pathway where the blasts of hell will almost blow you off your feet, where the sharp rocks cut the feet, where the projecting thorns scratch the brow, and the venomous serpents hiss on every side.

"The Lord provides deep roots when there are to be wide-spreading branches."

I think to have a true appreciation and vision of this devotion you have to be familiar with the western plains where trees may be few and far between. I've noticed since moving to the south where trees are EVERYWHERE that sometimes, totally unexpected and without a storm, a tree may just topple over! I suppose there's a whole different message to be gleaned from those incidents such as maybe a tree looking healthy on the outside, but inside being eaten up with disease or insects (anger? bitterness? unforgiveness? covetousness?) until one day it just crashes to destruction. But across the other side of the Mississippi it's common to see perhaps many, many acres of flat land or farm land with NO trees except maybe one lone tree out there. This tree is generally not a pretty tree, but knarled and twisted but with a substantial trunk and large limbs. You have to wonder how the tree got there in the first place, or why. Some speculate a farmer long ago planted a seed at the edge of his field so one day there would be a big shade tree to take a rest under when it was time to plow or harvest the field. Others say the seed was dropped by a bird and the tree grew as a result. Regardless of the beginning, there now stands a tree with deep roots that secure it in place and provide the necessary nourishment.

I especially was blessed by the part of the devotion talking about the big cracks in the hard soil around the trunk of the tree appearing as great wounds. Sometimes we may feel like we're all alone, braving the harsh elements, and that we're deeply wounded by the cruel winds and storms but it's those gaping wounds that allow the nourishing rains to penetrate all the way to the roots. Without the wounds, the roots wouldn't be accessible and no new growth would occur. Like the old saying, "No pain, no gain." But our Lord will sustain us and help us to grow and flourish as a result of enduring the storms. Praise God. I don't want to have suffered wounds in vain, but I want pain to be turned to gain! AMEN!