Lessons from rest and roots

I took Friday off work to rest and take a spiritual retreat of sorts. I woke up with a nagging sense of guilt—feeling as though I could or should do something more “productive” with this day. As I sat down for my morning quiet time, God tenderly brought me to 1 John 3:20, NLT: “Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings and he knows everything.”
God knows how much I gain worth from accomplishment, from what I can do—for Him, for myself, for others.
To make good use of my day I thought I should go for a good long bike ride, and decided to explore Gold Camp Road. After driving more than an hour to get to the south part of town, then another half hour around the general vicinity back and forth, getting frustrated for knowing generally where I was going, but not really how to get there, I finally consulted the map in my glove compartment. Once I did that I easily navigated to my destination.
I realized how often my life is like this. I try to do everything on my own, just tough it out, keep forging relentlessly ahead. How much better would the journey be if I would stop to ask for directions from others or consult my guidebook (the Bible)?
However, my map did not show, and I did not remember, that Gold Camp Road is not a good place for road bikes. Windy, steep, narrow, shadowy—the perfect opportunity to get hit by a car—not really what I wanted, so I gave up that idea. Since I was parked right there, I decided to go for a little hike up around Helen Hunt Falls.
The water plummeting down the rocks glistened in the sunlight as it reflected off the ice crystals forming. The burbling of the water sounded like a thousand footsteps steadily running down the river. The quiet race slowed my steps as I ventured up the trail.
Soon I spotted an odd sight. Trees with naked roots hanging above the ground. (Picture to come). I thought this image profound, as I’ve been studying being “rooted and established in love” (Ephesians 3:17, NIV) this week.
The Greek word for rooted is “rhizoo” meaning “to be rooted, strengthened with roots, firmly fixed, constant.” The concept comes from a tree being as strong as its roots are deep. Though the soil around these trees was eroding, they could stand because their roots were well established.
This got me wondering how strong my roots are. Would I be blown over by the winds of difficulty? If I find safety and nourishment from accomplishments and achievement, what will happen when that’s blown away?
The top of my tree, my appearance, may look healthy and thriving, but the roots are the true indicator.
As I pondered how much I gain worth from what I do, I thought, “So what can I do to change that?” Hah! Don’t you get it yet? You’re asking what you can do to stop finding worth in what you do?
It’s not about you or what you can do. It’s about what God can do, and moreso who He is.
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is” (Ephesians 3:17-18, NLT).
The deeper we are rooted in God’s love, the less likely we are to fall. All other ground is eroding sand.