Get Rooted, Look Up, & Grow Anyway

A common phrase you hear among runners or triathletes, is when they “hit a wall” during a race, or training. It seems like they get to the end of their strength and just don’t have much left to continue….until they do! And then they get a second wind and find that at their lowest moments, they had something in them that even surprised themselves. That's what courage and determination look like.

Recently, I made a short trip to Guatemala scouting a location for a project team to go in later next spring and do some engineering work there. The last day at El Faro, we headed up the Rio Dolce on a boat ride to see some of the rain forest, and the mountains along the river. The Rio Dolce is where Cortes and his conquistadors arrived in Guatemala in 1524 during the Spanish conquest.

As we were motoring along this historic waterway, we saw many beautiful sights but there was one view that could have easily been missed; that is the picture you see above. I looked at that white, rocky cliff with the stone pretty much going straight up. When I looked closer, I realized that there were tall, older trees that were growing straight up the cliff.

Hmm…ever feel like you have “hit a wall” and are facing an arduous climb straight up the rocks? Me too….Here is what I learned looking more closely at the cliffs and the thriving trees, growing where you would not expect to see trees. Those trees started as small seeds, then became saplings, and along the way they began to grow roots (sideways in this case). Roots that sought out any crack, or crevice, where they could get a foothold, and seek out the nutrition needed to survive. Then it started growing, slowly, climbing, slowly, growing…straight up the mountainside.

Nice picture, Jeff, but what does that have to do with me? Here is what it has to do with you; when you have hit a wall, feeling burnt out, and wanting to quit, hold on and get rooted.

Seek to find space, or a place, where you can send down some roots even if at first you grow sideways, like the trees on the cliff but then begin to grow UP the mountainside. How do you do that? Sometimes it means reaching out to a trusted friend who will listen to your heart, and walk with you, without a bunch of advice or comment. If you are a person of faith, share your journey with a trusted, fellow believer or your small group members you meet with. Ask them to pray with you during the process.

Secondly, besides getting rooted, look up!!! Our physical countenance matters, and the perspective we choose can either be to look down and be discouraged OR to look up and see where the light is coming from. Those trees that grew up the mountainside, did so not only as roots were growing, but because they were also seeking light to stay alive. They were not able to provide light themselves, they grew up toward the light that they could find above them.

Finally, besides becoming rooted, and looking up, regardless of your circumstances, make up your mind to grow anyway. When I was in tough times early in life and struggling to find my way, my dear mom would remind me to “bloom where you are planted”. In other words, find a way to get better even in the midst of struggle or disappointment.

Like the mountainside trees on Rios Dolce, find a way to get rooted, look up, and grow anyway. You have it in you, and there are others who want to help you make the journey successfully.