I don’t know how many of you have ever paid attention to the sidewalks in Cuyahoga Falls, but if you go to the sidewalks that aren’t right off of a main road they are all jacked up and going every which a way. I notice these things because I like to walk (although not right now since it is so cold) I love to get some shuffle going on my iPod, and walk for a while. While I am dodging the rugged terrain of the Cuyahoga Falls sidewalks, I notice that there is one reason that the sidewalks are so messed up.
Roots.
There are a lot of trees in C-Falls, and with trees come shade (which I am a big fan of when I am walking down the road with my fair complexion), trees do all sorts of neat things. Another thing trees do is as they grow, so does their foundation and it so just about whatever is in the path of the roots get moved. There have been houses that have had their basements and/or foundations broken and destroyed by tree roots. Just about nothing can stop these roots.
All these roots make trees stand stronger, more firmly, and do all the dirty work that gives the tree life and helps them bring forth their fruit or blossoms. These are all good things, but they can be destructive.
So should we cut down all trees? I mean if they are so destructive and their roots destroy things.
Well, I imagine we all know that isn’t a suggestion, and all is well if you plant trees by this simple rule.
A tree planted in the right place is good. A tree planted in the wrong place is bad.
That is why the Bible tells us we need to be rooted and grounded in…love. I am sure we have all seen the mockery of Christ, when people calling themselves Christians are out yelling and telling people they are going to burn in Hell forever. Even if it is the truth…I have never seen someone healed of cancer by having someone walk up to them, shove their finger in their face and scream you have cancer and you’re going to die!
That’s why in Love is important
Planted in right place, beauty…in wrong, destructive.
The world needs trees, and of course we all need Christ and we should be rooted…even deeply as a tree is…but we should be careful how our roots are impacting our surroundings. I am sure that the people who have roots tearing through their basement aren’t especially happy no matter how good the apples that come off the tree may be. We can have a positive impact, or a destructive one much like a tree.
We have a great message, we have great love shown to us and it is part of what we do to share that love…but if we are taking the message of God’s love, mercy, and grace to the world are we doing so much harm with what we are rooted in that people can’t enjoy the fruit of His love, mercy, and grace. It isn’t that we should be silent about what we believe (quite the contrary), it isn’t even that we shouldn’t share it freely…it is how we present it. If we are presenting the love of God in a way that is destructive to their way of life and not presented in a way that breathes the love of God, people are going to want to cut down the tree and not care one bit about the fruit, blossoms, or ANYTHING good we may have to say.
So, we have the greatest message in the world…but we should check our actions…or our roots…because if we are being destructive instead of nurturing…not only are we being destructive to the world of those we are trying to reach, but we are also being very destructive to our very purpose for being here.
Are your roots deep? Are they destructive or are they there, supporting you, but not destructive and they bring life to the parts of you that the world can see and enjoy? Are your roots deep in the love of God and not only nurturing you, but bring forth fruit in your life so that you are nurturing others around you…believer or not? Be bold with the message of love, grace, and mercy…but don’t be destructive, just look at Christ…He was bold…and yet…not destructive, but nurturing. I challenge us to do the same.
Deep, nurturing roots.
So reflects the simpleMan.
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