Back in May, I spent a lot of time turkey hunting with my dad. As we were walking through a particular wooded lot, I noticed a tree which had fallen over some time ago – not a rare sight in the woods. But what struck me was the size of the tree, the shape of its root structure, and all the many rocks entangled in the wiry roots now exposed above the ground. (Zoom in on that photo and you’ll see what I’m talking about – so many rocks!)
I have thought of that moment a few times since May, so I decided to summarize my thoughts on the scene and the truth I think it illustrates for all of us…
The tree was not very big, just an ordinary tree in a not too old patch of woods (look in the background and you’ll see that the trees are not very big). He blended right in with all the others; he was nothing extraordinary and nothing particularly noticeable. Like all the other trees, he had a large, expansive root structure. As he grew, he needed to reach deeper into the ground by extending his roots, in order to build a stronger foundation for his increasing height and weight, and also to retrieve water. Along the way, there were rocks. He decided to wrap his roots around these rocks because they felt more stable and firm than the mere dirt which he could never seem to get to the bottom of, never fully or tightly grasp. Frankly, the dirt annoyed and frustrated him, seemed nonsensical and like a waste of time. So, the tree settled for grabbing onto the rocks and was content with his decision. That is, until a storm came. A terrible wind blew through the woods and this tree just couldn’t handle it. He felt himself begin to sway, and then to slowly become uprooted, and to eventually topple over with a thud. What had happened? He couldn’t understand. He wasn’t on the edge of the woods… he wasn’t the largest tree and he also wasn’t the smallest. What had happened? Had his grip on the rocks not been tight enough? Surely they should have kept him upright! But, alas, the tree realized that not only had the rocks not kept him from falling – they were entirely unearthed as well! His whole root structure was only a foot or two deep, a flat and messy layer of tangled roots and rocks. It took a fatal storm for the tree to realize that these rocks could have never kept him safe the way the ground could.
Okay – so you’re probably a little metaphorical yourself and know that I am about to call you a tree. You’re the tree in this, alright? And, no matter how old you are, you’re growing. Not in height, weight, or even maturity perhaps… but in depth and perhaps even wisdom, in knowledge and insight and experience. And hopefully you’re also growing closer to the Lord. As you grow, you have decisions to make. You can extend your roots into the ground, into the good foundation which the Lord has provided for us through His Word, through prayer, through His Holy Spirit, or you can choose rocks as your foundation. Rocks can be anything which you are building your identity, self-worth, sense of safety or purpose around that are not God Himself. Rocks can be anything from addictions, unhealthy behaviors, or sinful habits, to the way you dress, your reputation, your image, your possessions, or even your job, your health, or your family. Woah, do I mean that? Yes. Hear me out.
God knows that as we grow, there will be rocks that we can cling to. There will even be some rocks which we should cling to – like loved ones, good work, and fulfilling His calling for us. The Lord knows that these can surely add to a good, strong foundation. But. They can’t be the whole thing, and they can’t even be the main thing. We need to make sure our main roots are continuing downward, reaching deeper into His Word, ever growing, never fully able to get to the bottom before our time has come, but searching endlessly all the same. In doing so, our foundation will be deeper, stronger, firmer than any grouping of rocks could ever provide.
I want you to think about the rocks in your life because we all have them. Think of those things on which you have built your identity, your purpose, the things you wake up for each day and keep you going in the hard times. Some of those things are awesome gifts, good rocks, placed in your life by the Lord. And perhaps other rocks aren’t necessarily things that He would want you to cling to at all. Or maybe your problem is that you’re clinging to the right rocks, but you’re wrapped too tightly around them – you’re letting your deeper, thicker roots get wound up with the ones in higher soil among the rocks, and those deep tendrils are not seeking their intended Foundation the way they should. I don’t know you and I don’t know your story – but I hope it doesn’t take a terrible storm for your rocks to be unearthed, for you to realize that you have been wrapping yourself up in things that cannot provide you any assurance, any stability, any hope. I hope that your eyes are fully opened to what your priorities are and what they should be. Don’t leave the good ground of the Lord untouched, never reaching into it because you feel like your rocks are enough. They aren’t and they never will be. Go deeper, and don’t stop.
Matthew 4:1-4, HLC
sacred strokes 