Where is Your Hope Rooted?

The present study at my local church has been titled "Rooted." If you fail to make the connection, the premise of the study is rooted in God. The subject matter is of considerable significance as we find ourselves and our society living in unprecedented times. It is as though we live in the last days, where that which is right is being called wrong, and that which is wrong is being called right. People are desperately clinging to anything that provides a glimmer of hope, yet most, if not all, are temporary. Now, as never before is the time to get yourself rooted in the one permanent, unchanging hope that we have in God. You may be asking, "but Meaghan, how do we accomplish getting rooted with God or even know that we are on the right path?". Before I share my thoughts on that, I want to tell you a story about my grass.

Here in Texas, we have seen record heat anywhere from 101 to almost 106. The heat index has not seen temperatures below 90 degrees since June, nor will it until late September. This summer, unlike last summer, is significantly hotter with heat advisories a daily part of the news. Down in the deep south, we contend with not only the heat but humidity, which gives us a dual temperature reading each day. We have the actual temperature, for example, 96 degrees, but add in the humidity, and you have a "feels-like" temperature reading of, for example, 106. We are also seeing below-average precipitation this summer compared to last year resulting in little to no rain to water our lawns.

It is mid-August, and there is no sign that the heat will be cooling off anytime soon. Yet, despite record heat and little to no precipitation, our two acres of grass continues to grow at astonishing rates. Thus, the need for my husband to mow yet again! This grass we have is not just surviving the heat, it is thriving in it! How can this be? The only conclusion I have been able to derive is that this grass must first, be in some incredible nutrient-rich soil, and second, that has some seriously deep roots. To prove this point, you must first understand the root system of the grass. Allow me to 'geek out' for a moment.

If you have ever watched a time-lapse of grass grow from a soil cross-section, it is genuinely quite fascinating not to mention very tellingly of just how critical the root system is. First, you never see grass being planted one seed at a time in rows that are separated as you would say pumpkins or cucumbers, but rather the grass seeds are deposited together at approximately 16 seeds per square inch. This method of sowing seeds benefits not only the single blade of grass but all of those planted around it, not to mention the contributions it makes to the soil.

After a grass seed is planted, it must sit in the soil for two days. At that time, the root system begins to emerge from the seed. This single root makes its way down into the ground, extending deeper and deeper. Offshoots from the root then start spreading to the left and to the right seeking to stabilize and anchor itself to the soil, preparing for what is to come both below and above the surface. During maturation, the root is adjoining, crossing over, and connecting with other roots from neighboring seeds. Around the six days mark the portion of the grass that we see, the blade/leaf will begin to emerge from the soil. This process takes around nine days before the blade is fully upright. The root system continues growing and anchoring in the earth below, providing much more than just a solid anchor for the leaves above.

Turf species, a fancy way to say grass, have a very vigorous and fibrous root system, according to Dr. Van Cline, Ph.D., a Senior Agronomist for the TORO brand. He further states it is through this system that the grass gives and receives nutrients and moisture from the soil. The portion of the turf that we see above the surface directly reflects the state of the root system below. If the root system is healthy, the result will be a thick, durable, lush, green turf. In turn, if the root system is not healthy, the grass you see will be weak; it could be sparse, brown, or even dead. Now you may have caught that I said the root system gives and receives. Through this, give and take, the soil is also impacted.

Something you may not have realized about grass and its roots is that they make fantastic soil builders. The root tissue turns over on an annual basis. Part of this process includes the breaking down of the roots by microorganisms that result in stable organic matter; this, in turn, makes the soil very fertile (life-giving) (Dr. Van Kline). These aggregates help to balance air, moisture-holding ability, and drainage, ultimately resulting in growing deep, healthy, sustainable roots. A lot is riding on the health and wellbeing of this root system! So, what does all of this have to do with heat!

For your grass to survive during excessive heat, you must maintain a healthy lawn year-round. You cannot wait until the heat of summer comes thinking that you can set up your sprinkler system for one or two days a week, expecting your lawn to thrive. At that point, you will be lucky if it survives! You see, unless we make sure that our grass is planted in nutrient-rich soil, planted with others to ensure its strength, and survival, and care for it all year round, there is no way it will survive the heat alone thrive in it. Since our lawn is thriving in this heat, I can rest assured we have done something right!

People are a lot like grass when it comes to our spiritual health. When the heat of life comes our way, we will not survive, let alone thrive if we are not adequately rooted, or if our root system is damaged or non-existent. Like turf, we must plant ourselves in good soil. Soil that is rich in nutrients, and provides the kind of living water that we can tap into year-round. Meaning that we cannot be planting ourselves in just anyone's garden!

Just look around your neighborhood, and you will see there are many types of gardeners. Those who care for what they have. Neglectful ones, and those that don't give two cents. If you are looking to be a blade of grass, full of life, then you need to look to the Ultimate Gardener and get planted in the soil of His word.

God is the only one who can give you the kind of life-giving nutrients you will need, not only to be planted in but those that can sustain you through even the hottest of times in your life. Also, remember that grass is never sown in a singular and separated way, it is surrounded by other seeds. Seeds that it can grow with, literally and physically. The longer they spend in life-giving soil, the deeper and stronger their roots become. This stability will help when the rains come, allowing for proper drainage, so the rising waters do not consume them. Stability allowing for strength as their roots are intertwined, holding them up against the strongest of storms. There is no such thing as a "new normal" for a blade of grass, and it cannot survive if it is isolated, it must have a community of other leaves and roots to help it survive! You cannot endure isolation long-term; humanity was built for togetherness! God said it is not suitable for man to be alone; therefore, he created the woman! God created us and grass for community!

If you are looking to not only encourage root growth but also to grow deeper roots, some things must be tended to on the surface and below. For you, this translates to spiritual maintenance. For a lawn to thrive, from time to time, it also needs to be groomed; likewise, during our growth, God must prune us back as any good Gardener does. (This will come in the form of correction, through His Word and the Holy Spirit). Grass that is too long looks messy and unkempt as if the Gardener is absent. Grass grooming is necessary for the roots to grow deeper and more robust. Watering deeply and using a slow-release fertilizer is the final lesson we can take away from grass. From this, we can understand that what we drink and eat spiritually is essential; it must be life-giving and who knows more about life-giving water and food that our heavenly Gardener. Like grass, we require a constant infusion of God's word in our lives to keep us fed, healthy, and hydrated.

The next time you see a blade of grass or a healthy lawn, I pray you will think twice about all that it took to get it there. I pray you will consider the careful hands of the Gardener who loves it enough to provide all its needs. I pray this will allow you to examine your life, looking deeply within to see how healthy your grass is, or is not. Do you need to be watered deeply? Perhaps you require a life-giving infusion of God's word? And finally, do not overlook the importance of community! Find a body of Bible-believing followers of Christ to root yourself in and with. This will keep your roots growing deep and strong and will protect you during life’s storms. Following this novice gardener’s advice will hopefully lead you to the Ultimate Gardener found only through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior!