Are you a phreatophyte or a xerophyte?
Or perhaps both?
This is a question about rootedness. How are you rooted? Phreatophytes and xerophytes are desert dwelling plants, though some xerophytes also survive in arctic conditions. Phreatophytes are able to survive in a dry climate because their deep roots reach down into the subterranian waters in the zone of saturation. Xerophytes are plants that survive because they have adapted to dry climates with shallow but broad root-systems, the ability to absorb water through the leaves, and large water storage capacity.
How are you rooted spiritually? A few deep roots, or a broad variety of intake methods at the surface? I’ve pondered which of these ways of growing spiritually may be better. But why judge? It works both ways for plants; maybe it’s so for people, too.
The picture at the top of this blog is one of rootedness. At the surface, in the frozen mid-winter, these trees look like they’re barely surviving. But in reality, their roots reach deep under the snow to where the warm water always flows. What nourishes you in the dry or frozen times of your life?
As those who are reborn by water and the Spirit (see John 3), the question of our rootedness is of vital significance. How are you rooted?
I actually have thought about this (on my walks thru Hartwood Acres) a good bit but did not know the terms phreatophyte and xerophyte. It seems to me that a cluster of trees with more shallow root systems maintain their stability in storms by intertwining their roots with the roots of other trees; this to me is often the role of the church. It also seems to me that the soil can become root-bound and inhibit the root system of individual trees from going deeper; I felt as though this was happening to me for awhile. It occurs to me though that a tree growing in the middle of a field, although it may have a deep tap root, is especially vulnerable in a storm…I wonder if it is scared too? In nature are there any trees with deep tap roots that are growing “in community”? I hope so. As for me, as I yielded to the desire to group deeper spiritually, I felt I had to move away from the center of the forest where, I perceived, it was less root-bound and I could get a little more light. I now feel as though a few roots have found there way down to a source of deeper water so I have grown stronger and my survival is not as easily threatended by the other trees in the forest…and perhaps I am a little less susceptible to blights.
As I was walking thru the woods a couple of weeks ago I also observed that a dead tree had fallen on 2 young trees; the young trees were bent, yielding to the weight of the dead wood. I felt injustice and sadness and wanted to free the young trees; without a chainsaw, I was only able to release one of them. Each time I walk past there I am saddened by the young life that is being killed by the weight of the dead tree. This happens in our communities as well.
I loved Lynn’s analogy of your comment Mike,and I’m not even going to match what she said but I also believe that we need to grow our roots deeper in our beliefs and not be so shallow in our understanding of what is going on around us. Being shallow is what is going to cause us to topple when the pressure is on.
We need to be firmly rooted in our convictions so that when the storms rage on, we will be left standing.
Yes, Al. The reason I like the trees in the snowy midwinter is that they “feel” the full experience of their environment. When it’s wet they get wet. When it’s cold they get cold. How they feel at the surface does not diminish the nourishment they are receiving from deeper down. Conversely, the nourishment they receive from their deep rootedness enables them to live well despite the harsh winter environment.
So, with us, we may experience the unpleasantness of our environment. We may feel cold, discouraged, afraid, with dampened spirits. But we can survive those experiences when our relationship with God is intact, when we know that our life depends on God’s grace filling us, not on how we feel at any given moment.
Real food for thought! After a day of pondering Mike’s question, I think I need both: deep roots or foundations that guide my life but feeder roots too. I find myself drawn to learning about and understanding new ideas and then, if they fit within the framework of my core beliefs, incorporating new ideas into my daily life. For instance: Back in February of this year, I realized I didn’t have a 2009 calendar for my bedroom. The choices at Border’s ultra sale/discount rack was limited to things like Pro Wrestling and Chopper Motorcycles. If faced with a complete selection in December, I probably would have chosen a Snoopy or a Frazzle Mom theme, but, trying to select the best of the worst, I settled on ‘Meditation Art’. Each month featured images and sayings from Hindu and Buddhist culture. I rationalized that at least the elephant on May was cute. Over the past 8 months, I have found the art to be soothing and the wise words resonating within me. For October, the saying is “This is It” – a reminder to be aware of and to live in the present but also, for me, a reminder that each day is a God-given gift and how thankful I am for His abundance. I’m not likely to trade my Presbyterian roots for a Buddhist temple, but I appreciate the wisdom of their traditions.
The nice thing is that your Presbyterian roots allow you to be open to hearing and recognizing truth wherever it may be spoken. All truth is of God, and all truth will resonate with what we know of God in Christ (which is another way of saying what you’ve just beautifully written!) If indeed the Spirit that gave birth to the church is the same Spirit that swept over the waters at the beginning of time, bringing forth all life, then there is no place of creation where that Spirit is not at work. And if the Word made flesh in Jesus is the same Word that was in the beginning with God, then that Word is active in all creation. The beauty of our faith is that we can expect to see and hear God’s truth and goodness both inside the church and beyond it. Thanks, Wendy!