I was on a run the other day taking in all the sights along the greenway, loving spring and appreciating the beauty of God's creation. I stopped along the creekside so I could listen to the trickling spring, bask in the sun streaming through the trees and of course catch my breath! As I stood there, relaxed in nature, I couldn't help but notice the massive roots of many of the trees were exposed and hanging over the banks of the creek. They almost looked like they were hanging on by a thread and would collapse into the water at anytime...the ground was taken right out from under them, their foundation was gone, and life had eroded around them. How many times could this represent instances in our lives when the carpet is pulled out from under us, we collapse and life feels like it's eroding around us? We are exposed, vulnerable and weak.
The beauty in this sight was that these trees were still thriving. They were coming alive this spring with buds and new growth. They didn't want to quit. Their roots were getting thicker, stronger and longer. They had a purpose and showed that they were necessary. I then noticed how the large, strong trees next to these vulnerable ones were supporting their needy neighbors by intertwining their roots among them. They reached out to keep them growing up and not wanting them to collapse into the creek. Somehow they knew they needed to throw out a branch or change direction in their roots to support their neighbor. How many times have you felt a friend reach out like that in your time of need? How many of you have been the supportive tree and intertwined your life into a friend's to keep them growing up and creating new life?
My desire is to be like that strong tree supporting those around me who's foundation has been shaken and they seem as though they could easily collapse. I hope that I'm aware enough to change direction if need be and show my support by intertwining my life. On the other side of this, I hope that I'm transparent and vulnerable enough to accept help when my roots are exposed.
